a case study approach to understanding the value added of the prc healthy aging thematic research...

A Case Study Approach to Understanding the Value Added of the

PRC Healthy Aging Thematic Research Network

Doryn Davis Chervin, DrPHNicola Dawkins, PhD, MPH

Gayle-Marie Holmes Payne, MSHealthy Aging Network Evaluation Writing Group

AEA Annual ConferenceNovember 3, 2006

Today’s Presentation

• Describe the PRC Healthy Aging Network

• Present Case Study Approach

• Share Some Study Findings

CDC’s Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Program• Prevention Research Centers Program: 33

academic-community partnerships to develop prevention research for the most demanding community-level health challenges

• PRCs’ foci represent a wide variety of public health concerns and communities

Healthy Aging Network

• Healthy Aging Network: A consortium of 9 PRCs focused on improving the health of older Americans through prevention research, translation, and dissemination of findings

• Combines diverse perspectives of network members– Many are luminaries in the field of aging studies

• Establishes new national linkages– To expand prevention research for older adults and their

communities

• Includes external partners such as Administration on Aging, National Council on Aging, Alzheimer’s Association

Healthy Aging Network: Participating PRCs• University of Washington at Seattle: Health Promotion Research

Center (coordinating center)• Texas A&M University System Health Science Center: Center for

Community Health Development• University of Colorado: Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center• University of California at Berkley: Center for Family and Community

Health• University of Illinois at Chicago: Illinois Prevention Research Center• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Center for Health

Promotion and Disease Prevention• University of Pittsburgh: Center for Healthy Aging (contracted by

University of Washington)• University of South Carolina: USC Prevention Research Center• West Virginia University: Centers for Public Health Research and

Training

Exploring Thematic Research Network Model• HAN is one of four current thematic research

networks supported by the PRC Program

• Other PRCs have considered moving in this direction

• PRC Program office wanted to better understand the value added by having a group of PRCs focus on a single prevention research theme

• ORC Macro evaluation team worked closely with PRC Program office and HAN evaluation group to establish evaluation questions and select study design

Evaluation Questions

• What are the accomplishments of the HAN to date?

• What is the value added of the thematic research networks (as embodied by the HAN)?

• What other capacities or untapped potential does the HAN have that are not currently being implemented or taken advantage of?

Study Design

Definition:

“… A case study is an examination of a specific phenomenon such as a program, an event, a person, a process, an institution, or social group. The bounded system, or case, might be selected because it is an instance of some concern, issue, or hypothesis.” (Merriam, 1988)

Descriptive Case Study

• To identify the meaningful characteristics of the intra-network processes involved in the construction and operation of the HAN

• To explain how the HAN functions and why it is a value-added enterprise

Methodology

• Systematic review of archival documents

• Key informant interviews

Methodology: Document Review

• Document Review: Primarily addressing what the HAN has accomplished to date– Strategic planning documents– Evaluation/summary data– Progress reports– Applications of centers– Capacity grid of member centers

• Data abstracted into a template, reviewed and analyzed

Methodology: Key Informant Interviews• Key Informant Interviews: Primarily addressing

untapped capacities and value added– HAN researchers, members of HAN evaluation

workgroup (n = 8)– External partners (n = 6)– Members of HAN leadership (n = 2)– CDC staff from PRC Program office and

Healthy Aging Program (n = 2)

• Data abstracted into a template, reviewed and analyzed for key themes, concordance or discordance across groups

Combined Data Analysis and Reporting• Data from document review and interviews

triangulated to establish themes and patterns across methods

• Draft summary of report shared with HAN evaluation group to validate accuracy

Findings

• Joining the HAN– Researchers from across universities, not just with PRC– SIP (Special Interest Project) funding presented formal

mechanism to bring together– Commitment to Healthy Aging Research

• Member relations– Extremely fond working relationships– Cited as significant reason for maintaining participation

• Funding and infrastructure– Coordination of lead center critical to network functioning– Outputs outweigh monetary inputs; need for greater

support not to take from other activities

Findings

• Accomplishments– HAN projects– Grants and funding– HAN products– HAN partners/partnerships– Conferences/workshops/presentations– HAN publications– Abstracts and posters

• Value added

Findings: Value Added

• Senior researchers in aging coming together to create and contribute to a national prevention research agenda in healthy aging

• Able to respond agilely to Congressional earmarks such as a brain health agenda

• Important for identifying and contributing to an emerging agenda, linking expertise across the country

• CDC support a catalyzing influence for coming together, but not sole attributional influence

Findings: Value Added

• Capacity to do multi-site research

• Ability to bring together a critical mass of investigators that a single university could rarely convene

• Independence from the government to elaborate an agenda in public health

• Enhance the careers of others (e.g., junior faculty) who work in the healthy aging arena

Limitations

• Only interviewed HAN members in the Evaluation Workgroup and not in other workgroups (although there is overlap in membership)

• Number of respondents was determined by time and resources and does not represent a representative sample

• Evaluation questions primarily focused on assets, so sought also to capture untapped capacities

Possible Uses of Case Study

• Enables HAN to assess accomplishments and consider strategies for future work

• Provides some insight regarding value added of thematic research network model

• Provides recognition of value added to key audiences: – CDC leadership– Congressional interests in aging– Other agencies interested in aging– Others interested in developing thematic

networks

Thank you for your attention.

Contact Information:

ORC MacroNicola Dawkins3 Corporate Square Suite 370Atlanta, GA 30329Ph: 404.321.3211Fax: 404.321.3688

[email protected]@orcmacro.com

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

a case study approach to understanding the value added of the prc healthy aging thematic research...

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