a case study approach to understanding the value added of the prc healthy aging thematic research...
Post on 18-Jan-2018
216 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
Today’s Presentation
• Describe the PRC Healthy Aging Network
• Present Case Study Approach
• Share Some Study Findings
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
Today’s Presentation
• Describe the PRC Healthy Aging Network
• Present Case Study Approach
• Share Some Study Findings
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
Nicola.U.Dawkins@orcmacro.comDoryn.D.Chervin@orcmacro.com
top related