Effects of Participation and Collaboration on Perceived Effectiveness of Core Public Health Functions

We measured the perceived effectiveness of core public health services at the community level, and we assessed whether certain system factors were associated with perceived effectiveness.

We used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Local Public Health Systems, conducted in 1998 and 2006, to examine the effects of the contributions of health departments and the participation of other agencies to core functions on the perceived effectiveness of community delivery of core assessment, policy development, and assurance functions.

Perceived effectiveness increased over time for all 3 core function areas (range = 41%-53% in 2006). Multivariable results showed that local health department contribution to effort was positively associated with perceived effectiveness of public health core functions. The significance of participation of individual types of agencies or organizations varied by core function areas, except for local government agencies and hospitals, which were significantly positively associated with all 3 core function areas.

We furthered our understanding of the significance of the contributions and participations of local health departments and of other individual agencies or organizations in the perceived effectiveness of delivery of core functions.