Research Paper on:
Evaluation of a Prevention Program

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
(Cato, 2007, p. 46). Research professionals should be able to justify their prevention programs efficacy using theory and empirically proven scientific rationale to assess short-term, intermediate and long-term effects (Cato,  2007). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) state that effective "program evaluation is a systematic way to improve and account for public health actions," by involving procedures that are "useful,  feasible, ethical and accurate" (CDC, 1999). The following discussion of health program evaluation procedures focuses on a student research proposal for creating a prevention program to prevent methamphetamine use among  teens. As the above definitions for program evaluation indicate, public health professionals no longer question the need to evaluate the efficacy of interventions. Today, the question is not whether  to evaluate the efficacy of programs, but rather to determine the "best way to evaluate," what researchers hope to learn from evaluation, and how the processes involved in evaluation can  be used to make health prevention programs more effective (CDC, 1999). According to the CDC (1999), the steps involved in formulating effective evaluation procedures should include, first of all,  engaging stakeholders, but should also include describing the program; focusing the evaluation design; gathering credible evidence; justifying conclusions and ensure use and sharing lessons learned. An "effective" evaluation procedure follows  the standards of utility, feasibility, propriety and accuracy (CDC, 1999). These standards are defined by the CDC in the following manner. 1. Utility : Serve the information needs of  intended users. 2. Feasibility: Be realistic, prudent, diplomatic and frugal. 3. Propriety : Behave legally, ethically and with due regard for the welfare of those involved and those affected;  (and) 4. Accuracy : Reveal and convey technically accurate information (CDC, 1999) In order to accomplish provide effective evaluation, Cato (2007) recommends using a "Step-by-Step Flow Chart," which is