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Program Evaluation Brief

MANUSCRIPT CHECKLIST

General

checkboxThe title accurately reflects the content of the manuscript.

checkboxThe manuscript adds substantially to what is already known about the topic.

checkboxThe article is of interest to PCD readers.

checkboxThe article fits the mission of the journal to address the interface between applied evaluation and public health practice in chronic disease prevention.

checkboxThe manuscript is clearly and concisely written and is free of jargon.

checkboxEach section of the manuscript — Introduction, Purpose and Objectives, Intervention Approach, Evaluation Methods, Results, and Implications for Public Health — includes the appropriate information. These sections are clearly delineated.

checkboxThe citations are up to date and relevant.

checkboxAll statements requiring citations have citations.

checkboxThe Acknowledgments identify funding for the study.

checkboxThe article has no more than 2,000 words and 15 references.

Abstract

checkboxThe text has no more than 250 words.

checkboxThe abstract accurately reflects the content of the manuscript.

checkboxThe abstract is unstructured.

checkboxIt has no more than 6 sentences, each corresponding to the subheadings in the main text of the manuscript: Introduction, Purpose and Objectives, Intervention Approach, Evaluation Methods, Results, and Implications for Public Health.

Introduction

checkboxThe public health area(s) of interest is described.

checkboxPurpose and rationale for the evaluation approach is justified by the literature and the circumstances under which implementation and evaluation activities occurred.

checkboxProject staff and partnerships responsible for conceptualizing, implementing, and evaluating efforts are described.

checkboxWhen and how long reported activities were implemented and evaluated are reported.

checkboxWhen data collection was initiated and completed are reported.

checkboxA literature review is provided to identify gaps in knowledge about the evaluation topic and show how the evaluation will add substantially to what is already known.

checkboxThe authors appear to know their subject.

checkboxDefinitions of terms specific to the context of the manuscript are provided.

Purpose and Objectives

checkboxFactors considered in developing the intervention are reported.

checkboxComponents of the intervention are adequately described.

checkboxSpecific objectives or evaluation questions are reported.

checkboxDetails on how partners and interested parties were engaged to develop the program’s purpose and objectives are reported.

checkboxCharacteristics of the setting and population are described.

Intervention Approach

checkboxAn intervention approach grounded in the literature and the intervention setting is described.

checkboxAssumptions underlying how activities, evaluation approach, and evaluation methods are aligned are presented.

checkboxOutcomes or measurements are adequately described.

checkboxOutcomes (eg, indicators, measures, benchmarks) unfamiliar to a general public health readership are explained.

checkboxIf validation of new and innovative measures is conducted as part of the study, they are described.

checkboxIntervention approach is appropriately linked to results (eg, outcomes, measures, indicators) being reported.

checkboxFigures or diagrams describing the intervention logically depict the interrelationship between key components being discussed.

Evaluation Methods

checkboxThe type of evaluation method (eg, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed) used and the rationale for its selection are described.

checkboxAn appropriate evaluation approach (eg, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed) was used to achieve the study objectives.

checkboxThe dates of the study are provided.

checkboxFor evaluations that report use of a survey, the survey questions are provided.

checkboxThe setting from which the participants are drawn (eg, general community, school, clinic, hospital, worksite) is described, including key sociodemographic features.

checkboxFor participants in the evaluation, detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria are provided.

checkboxParticipants are appropriate to the evaluation question.

checkboxRecruitment of participants in the evaluation and sampling procedures are described.

checkboxIf the manuscript describes an evaluation involving human subjects, it includes a statement that the research was approved by an appropriate institutional review board.

checkboxThe participation rate is provided and defined in terms of a numerator and denominator.

checkboxThe participation rate is satisfactory.

checkboxThe pre-evaluation (pre-study) calculation of required sample size is reported.

checkboxA consistent cohort of study participants, for whom all data (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed) are available, is used.

checkboxIf survey is used, the authors indicate whether the survey instrument has been shown to have validity.

checkboxThe statistical or qualitative methods are appropriately selected.

checkboxThe statistical or qualitative methods are explained in plain English.

checkboxThe software (statistical or qualitative) is identified.

checkboxEnough information is provided to enable an informed reader to replicate the evaluation.

checkboxThe Evaluation Methods section includes only a description of the methods; it does not describe results.

Results

checkboxThe main findings of the evaluation are provided.

checkboxThe results are specific and relevant to objectives and evaluation questions.

checkboxFor surveys, the response rate is provided.

checkboxMeasures of data distribution or precision (eg, SD, 95% CI, SE) are given, if appropriate.

checkboxImplications or weaknesses of the study and the rationale for the statistical procedures used are not discussed in this section.

Implications for Public Health

checkboxA lengthy reiteration of the Results section is avoided.

checkboxSpeculation and overgeneralization are avoided.

checkboxPositive and negative findings of equal scientific merit are emphasized equally.

checkboxThe conclusions drawn from the statistical or qualitative analyses are justified.

checkboxFindings from the evaluation are compared with findings of similar published evaluation efforts.

checkboxLimitations of the evaluation are discussed.

checkboxImplications for public health are discussed.

Tables and Figures

checkboxThere are no more than 2 figures or 2 tables or 1 of each.

checkboxThe tables and figures are well constructed, easy to comprehend, and visually appealing.

checkboxInformation in the tables or figures is not duplicated in the text or in other tables or figures.

checkboxInformation in the tables or figures is consistent with information in the text.

checkboxNumbers add up correctly.

checkboxThe tables and figures are able to stand independently; they do not require explanation from the text.

Illustrations in Other Media

checkboxText transcriptions of video and audio files are provided.

checkboxApproval obtained to reproduce newspaper clippings or other print or internet sources is provided.


The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.