Evaluation of the Use of Cancer Registry Data for Comparative Effectiveness Research.

Importance: Researchers often analyze cancer registry data to assess for differences in survival among cancer treatments. However, the retrospective, nonrandomized design of these analyses raises questions about study validity. Objective: To examine the extent to which comparative effectiveness analyses using observational cancer registry data produce results concordant with those of randomized clinical trials. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this comparative effectiveness study, a total of 141 randomized clinical trials referenced in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines for 8 common solid tumor types were identified. Data on participants within the National Cancer Database (NCDB) diagnosed between 2004 and 2014, matching the eligibility criteria of the randomized clinical trial, were obtained. The present study was conducted from August 1, 2017, to September 10, 2019. The trials included 85 118 patients, and the corresponding NCDB analyses included 1 344 536 patients. Three Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival, including univariable, multivariable, and propensity score-adjusted models. Multivariable and propensity score analyses controlled for potential confounders, including demographic, comorbidity, clinical, treatment, and tumor-related variables. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was concordance between the results of randomized clinical trials and observational cancer registry data. Hazard ratios with an NCDB analysis were considered concordant if the NDCB HR fell within the 95% CI of the randomized clinical trial HR. An NCDB analysis was considered concordant if both the NCDB and clinical trial P values for survival were nonsignificant (P ≥ .05) or if they were both significant (P < .05) with survival favoring the same treatment arm in the NCDB and in the randomized clinical trial. Results: Analyses using the NCDB-produced HRs for survival were concordant with those of 141 randomized clinical trials in 79 univariable analyses (56%), 98 multivariable analyses (70%), and 90 propensity score models (64%). The NCDB analyses produced P values concordant with randomized clinical trials in 58 univariable analyses (41%), 65 multivariable analyses (46%), and 63 propensity score models (45%). No clinical trial characteristics were associated with concordance between NCDB analyses and randomized clinical trials, including disease site, type of clinical intervention, or severity of cancer. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study suggest that comparative effectiveness research using cancer registry data often produces survival outcomes discordant with those of randomized clinical trial data. These findings may help provide context for clinicians and policy makers interpreting observational comparative effectiveness research in oncology.

Integrated care pathway for rectal cancer treatment: cross-sectional post-implementation study using a logic model framework

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Management of rectal cancer has become more complex with multimodality therapy (neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery) and this has led to the need to organize multidisciplinary teams. The aim of this study was to report on the planning, implementation and evaluation of an integrated care pathway for neoadjuvant treatment of middle and lower rectal cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional post-implementation study that was carried out at a public university cancer center. METHODS: The Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was used to identify resources and activities; link results from activities and outcomes with expected goals; and originate indicators and outcome measurements. RESULTS: The logic model identified four activities: stakeholders' engagement, clinical pathway development, information technology improvements and training programs; and three categories of outcomes: access to care, effectiveness and organizational outcomes. The measurements involved 218 patients, among whom 66.3% had their first consultation within 15 days after admission; 75.2% underwent surgery < 14 weeks after the end of neoadjuvant treatment and 72.7% completed the treatment in < 189 days. There was 100% adherence to the protocol for the regimen of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. CONCLUSIONS: The logic model was useful for evaluating the implementation of the integrated care pathways and for identifying measurements to be made in future outcome studies.

Explaining experiences of community-dwelling older adults with a pro-active comprehensive geriatric assessment program - a thorough evaluation by interviews.

INTRODUCTION: Pro-active assessment programs are increasingly used to improve care for older adults. These programs include comprehensive geriatric tailored to individual patient preferences. Evidence for the effects of these programs on patient outcomes is nevertheless scarce or ambiguous. Explaining these dissatisfying results is difficult due to the multi-component nature of the programs. The objective of the current study was to explore and explain the experience of older adults participating in a pro-active assessment program, to help to clarify the effects. METHODS: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were held with 25 participants of a pro-active assessment program for frail community-dwelling adults aged 65+. This study was part of an evaluation study on the effects of the program. Transcripts were analysed with thematic analysis and cross-case analysis. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 78.5 (SD 6.9) and 56% was female. The majority of the participants were satisfied with the program but based this on communication aspects, since only a few of them expressed real program benefits. Participant experiences could be clustered in six themes: (1) All participants expressed the need for a holistic view which was covered in the program, (2) the scope of the CGA was broader than expected or unclear, (3) the program delivered unexpected but valued help, (4) participants described a very low sense of ownership, (5) timing of the program implementation or the CGA was difficult and(6), participants and care workers had a different view on what to consider as a problem. These experiences could be explained by three program components: the degree of (the lack of) integration of the program within usual care, the pro-active screening method and the broader than expected, but appreciated multi-domain approach. CONCLUSION: Older adults' need for a holistic view is covered by this outpatient assessment program. However, their engagement and the correct timing of the program are hampered by the pro-active recruitment and the limited integration of the program within existing care. Furthermore, satisfaction seems an insufficient guiding factor when evaluating CGA programs for older adults because it does not reflect the impact of the program.

Integrated care pathway for rectal cancer treatment: cross-sectional post-implementation study using a logic model framework.

BACKGROUND: Management of rectal cancer has become more complex with multimodality therapy (neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery) and this has led to the need to organize multidisciplinary teams. The aim of this study was to report on the planning, implementation and evaluation of an integrated care pathway for neoadjuvant treatment of middle and lower rectal cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional post-implementation study that was carried out at a public university cancer center. METHODS: The Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was used to identify resources and activities; link results from activities and outcomes with expected goals; and originate indicators and outcome measurements. RESULTS: The logic model identified four activities: stakeholders' engagement, clinical pathway development, information technology improvements and training programs; and three categories of outcomes: access to care, effectiveness and organizational outcomes. The measurements involved 218 patients, among whom 66.3% had their first consultation within 15 days after admission; 75.2% underwent surgery < 14 weeks after the end of neoadjuvant treatment and 72.7% completed the treatment in < 189 days. There was 100% adherence to the protocol for the regimen of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. CONCLUSIONS: The logic model was useful for evaluating the implementation of the integrated care pathways and for identifying measurements to be made in future outcome studies.

Developing a Web-Based Smoking Cessation Program and Evaluating Its Effectiveness.

This study, which is based on the Stages of Change Model, aimed to develop a Web-based smoking cessation program and to evaluate its effectiveness. An interventional study with 1 group was conducted with college students from Afyon Kocatepe University. First, the Web-Based Smoking Cessation Program was set up (www.sbp.aku.edu.tr). The sample in this study was composed of the 433 students who were site members. The appropriate stages of the program were then sent to members' e-mail addresses at monthly intervals over a period of 6 months. Second, the effectiveness of the program was evaluated at the baseline, the third, and the sixth months of the study. The study was completed with 314 students. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, 1-way analysis of variance, and analysis of variance for repeated measures. There were significant developments in the self-efficacy, cognitive, and behavioral processes of students in the third and sixth months of the study. Students (2.5%) had quit smoking by the third month and 4.5% by the sixth month. These results reveal that the program was able to help students quit smoking, increase their self-efficacy, and develop the process of change regarding smoking cessation.

Quality Improvement Training in a Variety of Cancer Care Delivery Settings: Experiences From a Comprehensive Cancer Center, an Academic Medical Center, and Community Practices.

PURPOSE: Training clinical and supportive staff in quality improvement (QI) theory and use of QI tools has the potential to improve oncology care delivery. We report our combined experience of providing training to oncologists in a variety of local settings and assess the effect of the training on individual participants and for institutions. METHODS: Multidisciplinary oncology teams at a comprehensive cancer center, an academic medical center, and community practices were led through experiential QI training that spanned several months. The curriculum included didactic training sessions that attendees applied to their local project-based work and that required plan-do-study-act cycles. The curriculum was adapted to the smaller practice setting through use of a workbook and a reduced focus on quantitative methods. All teams were supported by coaches and provided final presentations to leadership. The self-rated abilities of trainees to use 15 QI tools were assessed with a pre/post training survey that had five response categories (information, skill, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom). Local institutional and external project presentations were tracked. RESULTS: During 7 years, 129 trainees participated in 56 QI projects. All of the 15 QI tools had 80% of trainees rate themselves in the top three categories (knowledge, understanding, and wisdom) after the training; none met this threshold before. Multiple projects were presented in institutional and external settings. Most projects targeted three of the four domains of the ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative certification program standards. CONCLUSIONS: We implemented and sustained QI training programs in a variety of cancer delivery settings. The flexible training model should be easily adoptable by others.

Studies evaluating of health interventions at schools: an integrative literature review.

OBJECTIVE: to identify and analyze the available evidence on the strategies used in the studies evaluating health interventions at school. METHOD: this is an integrative review searching in LILACS, CINAHL, CUIDEN, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. From the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, there were 121 articles chosen to compose the sample. RESULTS: english studies (97.5%), with a quantitative approach (80.2%), related to the interventions carried out in the Region of the Americas (54.6%) and the European Region (23.1%) predominated. For the most part, they are interventions as programs (70.2%), interested in evaluating results (73.5%) from the value judgment (83.4%). Prevalence of interventions focused on efficacy, effects or impact, and activities carried out on interventions were focused on physical activity, healthy eating, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. They are worked through activities of clinical monitoring, health promotion and disease prevention. CONCLUSION: the evidence indicates that the evaluations of health interventions in the school focus the results produced in programs through the judgment of value. The topics most addressed were healthy eating, physical activity, prevention of alcohol and other drugs, among others.

Health system factors affecting implementation of integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI): qualitative insights from a South African province.

The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy has been adopted by 102 countries including South Africa, as the preferred primary health care (PHC) delivery strategy for sick children under 5 years. Despite substantial investment to support IMCI in South Africa, its delivery remains sub-optimal, with varied implementation in different settings. There is scarce research globally, and in the local context, examining the effects of health system characteristics on IMCI implementation. This study explored key determinants of IMCI delivery in a South African province, with a specific focus on health system building blocks using a health system dynamics framework. In-depth interviews were conducted with 38 districts, provincial and national respondents involved with IMCI co-ordination and delivery, exploring their involvement in, and perceptions of, IMCI strategy implementation. Identified barriers included poor definition of elements of a service package for children and how IMCI aligned with this, incompetence of trained nurses exacerbated by inappropriate rotation practices, use of inappropriate indicators to track progress, multiple cadres coordinating similar activities with poor role delineation, and fragmented, vertical governance of programmes included within IMCI, such as immunization. Enabling practices in one district included the use of standardized child health records incorporating IMCI activities and stringent practice monitoring through record audits. Using IMCI as a case study, our work highlights critical health system deficiencies affecting service delivery for young children which need to be resolved to reposition IMCI within the broader child 'survive, thrive and transform' agenda. Recommendations for appropriate health system strengthening include the need for redefining IMCI within a broader PHC service package for children, prioritizing post-training supervision and mentoring of practitioners through appropriate duty allocation and rotation policies, strengthening IMCI monitoring with a specific focus on quality of care and building stronger clinical governance through workforce allocation, role delineation and improved accountability.

Studies evaluating of health interventions at schools: an integrative literature review / Estudos de avaliação das intervenções de saúde na escola: revisão integrativa de literatura / Estudios de evaluación de las intervenciones de salud en la escuela: revisión integradora de literatura

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify and analyze the available evidence on the strategies used in the studies evaluating health interventions at school. Method: this is an integrative review searching in LILACS, CINAHL, CUIDEN, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. From the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, there were 121 articles chosen to compose the sample. Results: english studies (97.5%), with a quantitative approach (80.2%), related to the interventions carried out in the Region of the Americas (54.6%) and the European Region (23.1%) predominated. For the most part, they are interventions as programs (70.2%), interested in evaluating results (73.5%) from the value judgment (83.4%). Prevalence of interventions focused on efficacy, effects or impact, and activities carried out on interventions were focused on physical activity, healthy eating, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. They are worked through activities of clinical monitoring, health promotion and disease prevention. Conclusion: the evidence indicates that the evaluations of health interventions in the school focus the results produced in programs through the judgment of value. The topics most addressed were healthy eating, physical activity, prevention of alcohol and other drugs, among others.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar e analisar as evidências disponíveis sobre as estratégias utilizadas nos estudos de avaliação das intervenções de saúde na escola. Método: revisão integrativa com busca na LILACS, CINAHL, CUIDEN, ScienceDirect e PubMed. A partir dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão predefinidos foram relacionados 121 artigos para compor a amostra. Resultados: predominaram estudos no idioma inglês (97,5%), com abordagem quantitativa (80,2%), referente às intervenções executadas na Região das Américas (54,6%) e Europeia (23,1%). Em sua maior parte, tratam-se de intervenções em formato de programas (70,2%), interessadas em avaliar resultados (73,5%) a partir do julgamento de valor (83,4%). Prevaleceram intervenções com foco em eficácia, nos efeitos ou no impacto e as atividades realizadas nas intervenções estavam voltadas para atividades físicas, alimentação saudável, saúde sexual e reprodutiva, saúde mental e uso do tabaco, álcool e outras drogas. Estas são trabalhadas através de atividades de acompanhamento clínico, promoção da saúde e prevenção de doenças. Conclusão: as evidências apontam que as avaliações das intervenções de saúde na escola focalizam os resultados produzidos em programas mediante o julgamento de valor. As temáticas mais abordadas foram alimentação saudável, atividade física, prevenção ao uso de álcool e outras drogas, entre outros.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar y analizar las evidencias disponibles sobre las estrategias utilizadas en los estudios de evaluación de las intervenciones de salud en la escuela. Método: revisión integradora con búsqueda en la LILACS, CINAHL, CUIDEN, ScienceDirect y PubMed. A partir de los criterios de inclusión y exclusión predefinidos fueron elegidos 121 artículos para componer la muestra. Resultados: predominaron estudios en el idioma inglés (97,5%), con enfoque cuantitativo (80,2%), referente a las intervenciones ejecutadas en la Región de las Américas (54,6%) y Europea (23,1%). En su mayor parte, son intervenciones en formato de programas (70,2%), interesadas en evaluar resultados (73,5%) a partir del juicio de valor (83,4%). Prevalecieron intervenciones con foco en eficacia, en los efectos o en el impacto y las actividades realizadas en las intervenciones estaban dirigidas para actividades físicas, alimentación sana, salud sexual y reproductiva, salud mental y uso del tabaco, álcohol y otras drogas. Esas son trabajadas a través de actividades de acompañamento clínico, promoción de la salud y prevención de enfermedades. Conclusión: las evidencias apuntan que las evaluaciones de las intervenciones de salud en la escuela focalizan los resultados producidos en programas mediante el juicio de valor. Los temas más abordados fueron alimentación sana, actividad física, prevención al uso de álcohol y otras drogas, entre otros.

Institutional care paths: Development, implementation, and evaluation.

PURPOSE: The Cleveland Clinic experience with care paths, including their creation and implementation, challenges overcome during development and testing, and outcomes of selected care path evaluations, is described. SUMMARY: Care paths are tools to assist healthcare professionals in practicing evidence-based medicine. The Cleveland Clinic health system has implemented or is developing approximately 100 care paths, including care paths designed to optimize management of sepsis and septic shock and to promote timely use of i.v. tissue plasminogen activator and correct dosing of antithrombotics and statins in patients with stroke. Key steps in successful care path initiatives include (1) identifying key stakeholders, (2) achieving stakeholder consensus on a standardized approach to disease or condition management, (3) cultivating provider awareness of care paths, (4) incorporating care path tools into the electronic health record and workflow processes, and (5) securing the resources to develop, implement, and maintain care paths. Electronic health records facilitate the use of and adherence to care paths. After care path implementation, revisions are typically needed due to unexpected issues not initially identified and to optimize care path features and support resources for clinical practice. Ongoing evaluation is required to determine whether an implemented care path is producing the intended patient and quality performance outcomes. CONCLUSION: Care paths provide a standardized approach to treatment or prevention of a disease or condition, reducing unnecessary variability and expense while promoting optimal, cost-effective patient care.

Strategic factors for the sustainability of a health intervention at municipal level of Brazil.

The present study aims to describe the evolution of an intervention, using a methodology that adopts the critical event as the unit of analysis, and to identify strategic factors that facilitate the continuation of the interventions. Six critical events were identified: dispute care models for health; area of advice: dispute field; change policy; break of interorganizational relations; lack of physical structure and turnover of staff; difficulty in organizing practices in the work process. these are developed into strategic factors: enabling network of allies; meetings and educational activities/building capacity; benefits perceived by community members; mobilization of key actors; intervention's compatibility with the government's vision; restoration of interrelationship; and stability of the workforce. These strategic factors form a group of interrelated conditions that provide the strengthened linkages between elements in the intervention, supporting the hypothesis that they collaborate for the sustainability of the interventions in health. Tracking down the transformations of an intervention set by the critical events, it was verified that these factors performed a protective role at times of changes in the intervention process.

Real-world program evaluation of integrated behavioral health care: Improving scientific rigor.

INTRODUCTION: Designing systematic, scientifically rigorous program evaluations (PE) is 1 way to contribute to the significant need to build best practices and a stronger evidence base for integrated behavioral health care. However, there are many potential pitfalls when conducting PE in real-world settings, and many clinicians and administrators may be hesitant to engage in PE due to lack of training or resources. Rigorous PE can be achieved feasibly and efficiently. METHOD: This article discusses common challenges that arise when conducting PE in integrated behavioral health care settings and illustrates ways to increase the methodological quality of PE efforts using lessons learned from 2 real-world case examples. The first example included a PE of a training program for brief alcohol interventions, and the second example included a PE of a depression medication monitoring service. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: The case examples demonstrate the need for strategic planning beforehand, including the use of a conceptual framework as well as appropriate study designs/methodology, measurement, and the need for consistency to achieve a well-designed PE. Using the recommendations within this article, it is hoped that the quality of PEs can be improved resulting in more generalizable data that can be used to inform organizations and policymakers to improve health care delivery. (PsycINFO Database Record

Confronting the new epidemic: Integrated care for opioid use disorders.

The inaugural Collaborative Family Health Care (CFHA) regional conference took place March 17, 2017, in St. Louis, Missouri. The conference theme was opioid use disorders and the potential of medication-assisted treatment using team-based care to address this epidemic. The conference ended with an emphasis on the importance of and strategies for self-care among caregivers working with this population and their families. This intensive meeting was crafted as a proof in concept for CFHA; however, the content was timely with regard to its importance in health care as well as compelling in the opportunity for collaborative care to offer an effective approach. In this article, the authors highlight five impotance topics: (1) opioid use disorders should be addressed in primary care; (2) a team is essential; (3) harm reduction; (4) sustaining self through mindful practice and self-compassion; and (5) medication-assisted treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record

Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Practice Nurse Mentor Training Program.

BACKGROUND: Multiple reasons are cited for why nurses do not incorporate evidence into clinical practice, including lack of knowledge and skills, training, time, and organizational support. AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness of a mentor training program on mentors' perceptions of knowledge, attitude, skill, and confidence levels, and organizational readiness related to evidence-based practice (EBP) and research utilization; and to investigate the effectiveness of creating a formalized structure to enculturate EBP in order to prepare nurses to incorporate EBP into clinical practice on nurses' perceptions of knowledge, attitude, skill levels, barriers, nursing leadership, and organizational support related to EBP and research utilization. METHODS: A two-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental, interventional design was used. A convenience sample of 66 mentors and 367 nurses working at a five hospital integrated healthcare system located in the Southeastern United States participated. FINDINGS: Nurse mentors' knowledge, attitude, skill level, and organizational readiness related to EBP, t = -8.64, p < .001, and confidence, t = -6.36, p < .001, improved after training. Nurses' knowledge, attitude, and skill level related to EBP, t = -19.12, p < .001, and barriers to research utilization, t = 20.86, p < .001, EBP work environment t = -20.18, p < .001, and EBP nurse leadership, t = -16.50, p < .001, improved after a formalized structure was implemented. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: EBP mentors are effective in educating and supporting nurses in evidence-based care. Leaders should use a multifaceted approach to build and sustain EBP, including developing a critical mass of EBP mentors to work with point of care staff.

Physical Performance and Attrition Among U.S. Air Force Trainees Participating in the Basic Military Training Fueling Initiative.

INTRODUCTION: Dietary intake of military initial entry trainees is often inadequate because of the structured food environment, lack of snacking, and limited time for meals. Inadequate intake during training increases risk for injury, poor performance, and attrition from training. A performance nutrition initiative was implemented at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland to mitigate this inadequacy in Air Force trainees and better reflect recommendations for active populations and mitigate nutritional inadequacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trainees (N = 867) in two squadrons either received a nutrition bar before bed (snack squadron n = 423) or did not (standard squadron n = 444). This study retrospectively compared trainees' attrition and fitness measures as recorded in the Basic Military Training (BMT) Surveillance database. RESULTS: Both groups had similar rates of attrition and graduation at the end of 8 weeks (p = 0.23). At the start of training, only one out of four trainees in either Squadron passed the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA). Although both squadrons' fitness measures improved as a result of the effects of training, the snack squadron had a significantly greater percent improvement in all PFA categories (p < 0.001), as represented by improved muscular fitness measures (p < 0.001), decreased median run time (p = 0.001), and greater improvement in scaled run scores (p = 0.013) as compared to the standard squadron. Those who received the snack were 1.62 (confidence interval: 1.2-2.2) times more likely to pass the PFA at 4 weeks than those who did not receive the snack. CONCLUSION: This study shows that military trainees' fitness improves with a modest nutritional supplement and suggests that optimizing overall nutrition benefits trainees. Attrition from BMT costs the U.S. Air Force up to $22,000 per trainee lost. In contrast, a trainee could receive one nutrition bar per day during BMT for $34. As the nutrition bar initiative improves fitness as well as costs less than recruiting and medically treating trainees whom ultimately attrite from training, the snack intervention was beneficial. Future studies of strategic nutrition interventions in military training populations can help trainees to better meet their macronutrient and micronutrient needs and further optimize training performance.

Strategic factors for the sustainability of a health intervention at municipal level of Brazil / Fatores estratégicos para a sustentabilidade de uma intervenção na saúde em nível municipal no Brasil / Factores estratégicos para la sostenibilidad de una intervención en el ámbito de la salud a nivel municipal en Brasil

Abstract: The present study aims to describe the evolution of an intervention, using a methodology that adopts the critical event as the unit of analysis, and to identify strategic factors that facilitate the continuation of the interventions. Six critical events were identified: dispute care models for health; area of advice: dispute field; change policy; break of interorganizational relations; lack of physical structure and turnover of staff; difficulty in organizing practices in the work process. these are developed into strategic factors: enabling network of allies; meetings and educational activities/building capacity; benefits perceived by community members; mobilization of key actors; intervention's compatibility with the government's vision; restoration of interrelationship; and stability of the workforce. These strategic factors form a group of interrelated conditions that provide the strengthened linkages between elements in the intervention, supporting the hypothesis that they collaborate for the sustainability of the interventions in health. Tracking down the transformations of an intervention set by the critical events, it was verified that these factors performed a protective role at times of changes in the intervention process.

Resumo: O estudo busca descrever a evolução de uma intervenção, utilizando uma metodologia que adota o evento crítico como unidade de análise, além de identificar fatores estratégicos que facilitam a continuação das intervenções. Foram identificados seis eventos críticos: modelos em disputa na assistência à saúde; área de conselhos: campo de disputa; mudanças de políticas; quebra de relações entre organizações; falta de infraestrutura física e rotatividade de equipes e dificuldade na organização das práticas no processo de trabalho. Os eventos foram desdobrados em fatores estratégicos: potencialização de uma rede de aliados; reuniões e atividades educacionais ou de capacitação; benefícios percebidos pelos membros da comunidade; mobilização de atores-chave; compatibilidade da intervenção com a visão do governo; restauração do inter-relacionamento e estabilidade da força de trabalho. Esses fatores estratégicos formam um grupo de condições inter-relacionadas que fortalecem a articulação entre os elementos da intervenção, sustentando a hipótese de que colaboram com a sustentabilidade das intervenções na saúde. Ao identificar as transformações de uma intervenção relacionadas aos eventos críticos, verificou-se que esses fatores desempenharam papel protetor em momentos de mudanças no processo da intervenção.

Resumen: El estudio busca describir la evolución de una intervención, utilizando una metodología que adopta el evento crítico como unidad de análisis, además de identificar factores estratégicos que facilitan la continuación de las intervenciones. Se identificaron seis eventos críticos: modelos en disputa en la asistencia a la salud; área de consejos: campo de disputa; cambios de políticas; ruptura de relaciones entre organizaciones; falta de infraestructura física y rotatividad de equipos y dificultad en la organización de las prácticas en el proceso de trabajo. Los eventos fueron desdoblados en factores estratégicos: potencialización de una red de aliados; reuniones y actividades educacionales o de capacitación; beneficios percibidos por los miembros de la comunidad; movilización de actores-clave; compatibilidad de la intervención con la visión del gobierno; restauración de la interrelación y estabilidad de la fuerza de trabajo. Estos factores estratégicos forman un grupo de condiciones interrelacionadas que fortalecen la articulación entre los elementos de la intervención, manteniendo la hipótesis de que colaboran con la sostenibilidad de las intervenciones en la salud. Al identificar las transformaciones de una intervención relacionadas con los eventos críticos, se verificó que esos factores desempeñaron un papel protector en momentos de cambios en el proceso de la intervención.

Identifying and understanding Indigenous ways of evaluating physical activity programs.

Indigenous evaluation frameworks have not been investigated in the context of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) physical activity programs, an important area given the relationship between effective physical activity programs and quality of life among these populations. To address this gap, staff members of AI/AN physical activity programs were interviewed to explore their understanding of and experiences with evaluation. Findings suggest that Indigenous evaluation is perceived as narrative and holistic, Indigenous knowledge is used in program decision making, though it is not always acknowledged as evaluation, and there is not a universally desired way to evaluate AI/AN physical activity programs.

Interfacing theories of program with theories of evaluation for advancing evaluation practice: Reductionism, systems thinking, and pragmatic synthesis.

Theories of program and theories of evaluation form the foundation of program evaluation theories. Theories of program reflect assumptions on how to conceptualize an intervention program for evaluation purposes, while theories of evaluation reflect assumptions on how to design useful evaluation. These two types of theories are related, but often discussed separately. This paper attempts to use three theoretical perspectives (reductionism, systems thinking, and pragmatic synthesis) to interface them and discuss the implications for evaluation practice. Reductionism proposes that an intervention program can be broken into crucial components for rigorous analyses; systems thinking view an intervention program as dynamic and complex, requiring a holistic examination. In spite of their contributions, reductionism and systems thinking represent the extreme ends of a theoretical spectrum; many real-world programs, however, may fall in the middle. Pragmatic synthesis is being developed to serve these moderate- complexity programs. These three theoretical perspectives have their own strengths and challenges. Knowledge on these three perspectives and their evaluation implications can provide a better guide for designing fruitful evaluations, improving the quality of evaluation practice, informing potential areas for developing cutting-edge evaluation approaches, and contributing to advancing program evaluation toward a mature applied science.

Implementation of an Integrative Medicine Curriculum for Preventive Medicine Residents.

The University of Maryland Department of Epidemiology and Public Health collaborated with the Center for Integrative Medicine at the same institution to develop and implement a unique integrative medicine curriculum within a preventive medicine residency program. Between October 2012 and July 2014, Center for Integrative Medicine faculty provided preventive medicine residents and faculty, and occasionally other Department of Epidemiology and Public Health faculty, with comprehensive exposure to the field of integrative medicine, including topics such as mind-body medicine, nutrition and nutritional supplements, Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage, biofield therapies, manual medicine, stress management, creative arts, and the use of integrative medicine in the inpatient setting. Preventive medicine residents, under the supervision of Department of Epidemiology and Public Health faculty, led integrative medicine-themed journal clubs. Resident assessments included a case-based knowledge evaluation, the Integrative Medicine Attitudes Questionnaire, and a qualitative evaluation of the program. Residents received more than 60 hours of integrative medicine instruction, including didactic sessions, experiential workshops, and wellness retreats in addition to clinical experiences and individual wellness mentoring. Residents rated the program positively and recommended that integrative medicine be included in preventive medicine residency curricula. The inclusion of a wellness-focused didactic, experiential, and skill-based integrative medicine program within a preventive medicine residency was feasible and well received by all six preventive medicine residents.

Long-term evaluation of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD.

INTRODUCTION: Personalized, global pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) management of patients with COPD is effective, regardless of the place in which this rehabilitation is provided. The objective of this retrospective observational study was to study the long-term outcome of exercise capacity and quality of life during management of patients with COPD treated by home-based PR. METHODS: Home-based PR was administered to 211 patients with COPD (mean age, 62.3±11.1 years; mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second, 41.5%±17.7%). Home-based PR was chosen because of the distance of the patient's home from the PR center and the patient's preference. Each patient was individually managed by a team member once a week for 8 weeks with unsupervised continuation of physical exercises on the other days of the week according to an individual action plan. Exercise conditioning, therapeutic patient education, and self-management were included in the PR program. The home assessment comprised evaluation of the patient's exercise capacity by a 6-minute stepper test, Timed Up and Go test, ten times sit-to-stand test, Hospital Anxiety and Depression score, and quality of life (Visual Simplified Respiratory Questionnaire, VQ11, Maugeri Respiratory Failure 28). RESULTS: No incidents or accidents were observed during the course of home-based PR. The 6-minute stepper test was significantly improved after completion of the program, at 6 months and 12 months, whereas the Timed Up and Go and ten times sit-to-stand test were improved after PR and at 6 months but not at 12 months. Hospital Anxiety and Depression and quality of life scores improved after PR, and this improvement persisted at 6 months and 12 months. CONCLUSION: Home-based PR for unselected patients with COPD is effective in the short term, and this effectiveness is maintained in the medium term (6 months) and long term (12 months). Home-based PR is an alternative to outpatient management provided all activities, such as exercise conditioning, therapeutic education, and self-management are performed.