Evaluation design for community-based physical activity programs for socially disadvantaged groups: communities on...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Interventions
• Health Promotion

Background:

• Low socioeconomic status groups in the Netherlands show limited improvement in physical activity levels.
• Participatory community-based physical activity interventions, like Communities on the Move (CoM), show promise.
• Effective evaluation approaches are needed for these interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a context-sensitive monitoring and evaluation approach for CoM.
• To measure the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of CoM interventions.
• To identify mechanisms explaining the success of community-based physical activity programs.

Main Methods:

• A multi-case cohort design is proposed.
• Evaluation will measure impact, processes, and changes at multiple levels.
• Both short- and long-term effects, costs, and benefits will be assessed.

Main Results:

• The proposed monitoring and evaluation model is currently under testing.
• Data collection and analysis are ongoing since October 2012.

Conclusions:

• The proposed evaluation design is a valid strategy for community-based physical activity programs.
• Internal validity is ensured through techniques like triangulation.
• Multiple case studies enhance the external validity of findings.