Methodology for evaluation of complex school-based health promotion interventions

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Promotion
• Educational Research

Background:

• Limited frameworks exist for evaluating complex interventions in Irish primary schools.
• Need for systematic examination of school-based evaluation data.

Purpose of the Study:

• Outline a methodology for process evaluation of a school-based physical activity and nutrition intervention.
• Introduce a novel framework for evaluating complex health promotion interventions in primary schools.

Main Methods:

• Utilized British Medical Research Council themes: implementation, context, and mechanism of impact.
• Employed mixed methods: questionnaires, PA logs, journals, write/draw activities, and interviews.
• Triangulated data from multiple tools to assess evaluation dimensions.

Main Results:

• Developed a unique framework integrating process and outcome data.
• The framework facilitates comparisons and offers a template for researchers.
• Methodology addresses the need for evaluating complex school-based interventions.

Conclusions:

• Presents a robust methodology for evaluating complex school-based health promotion interventions.
• The proposed framework enhances interpretation of results and facilitates inter-school comparisons.
• Offers a valuable template for future research in primary school health interventions.