Evaluation, which provides an attributable estimate of impact, is crucial to the continued improvement and success of public health interventions. However, each evaluation method has its own strengths and limitations — no single “correct” design exists.
By assessing the advantages, weaknesses and validity of design methods against stakeholders’ needs and the features of each intervention, healthcare professionals can enhance the rigor of an evaluation, bolster the quality of the results, and employ evidence-based decision-making to drive improvement. In
Evaluating Complex Health Interventions, Astou Coly, Ph.D., M.PH. and Gareth Parry, Ph.D offer an overview of three evaluation design categories — including strengths, limitations and examples of each.