Evidence-Based Practice in Community-Based Services: Toward an Evaluation of Parenting Programs Under a Pluralistic...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Program Evaluation
• Health Economics

Background:

• Evidence-based parenting programs (EBPP) are crucial for supporting families.
• Real-world implementation of EBPP necessitates robust evaluation strategies.
• A pluralistic approach is essential for comprehensive program assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize evaluation strategies for EBPP implementation in real-world settings.
• To address implementation characteristics, outcomes, and economic evaluations of EBPP.
• To adopt a pluralistic approach for a holistic program assessment.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a narrative review of peer-reviewed literature.
• Utilized the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA).
• Searched multiple databases (Web of Science, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, etc.) for relevant keywords.

Main Results:

• Presented the state-of-the-art in EBPP evaluation.
• Detailed evaluation strategies through a pluralistic lens.
• Showcased evidence types for implementation, outcome, and economic evaluations.

Conclusions:

• Outcome evaluations alone are insufficient for EBPP.
• Integrating implementation and economic evaluations enhances understanding of program impact.
• Comprehensive evaluations inform suitability for families and cost-sensitive decisions, reducing societal burden.