Theory in Public Health Interventions

Oct 31, 2024

Preventive Medicine Grand Rounds - February 3, 2021

Introduction

  • Presenter: Antonio Neri, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development
  • Sponsors: CDC's Preventive Medicine Residency and Fellowship (PMRF) and Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Workforce
  • Opportunities: PMRF offers service learning with public health leaders for those with public health experience.
  • Platform: Adobe Connect for audio/presentation, chat for questions.
  • Continuing Education: Credits available; course code: CDCPMRF.

Speaker Introduction

  • Speaker: Dr. Michelle Kegler
  • Topic: Application of Theory to Designing and Evaluating Public Health Interventions at Multiple Levels of the Socio-Ecologic Framework

Presentation Goals

  • Emphasize the importance of theory in public health practice.
  • Provide concrete examples of theory use.
  • Discuss applications of theory in understanding, designing, and evaluating public health interventions.

Importance of Theory

  • Purpose: Systematically approach public health problems.
  • Questions Answered by Theory:
    • Why people/organizations behave certain ways.
    • Designing interventions and predicting outcomes.
  • Theory Definition: Set of interrelated concepts explaining or predicting phenomena.
  • Key Resources:
    • Karen Glanz's Health Behavior book.
    • Theory at a Glance by National Cancer Institute.

Commonly Used Theories

  • Health Belief Model
  • Theory of Planned Behavior
  • Social Cognitive Theory
  • Social Support Theory
  • Diffusion of Innovations
  • Social Ecologic Model

Theory Applications

Example 1: Understanding Public Health Problems

  • Study: Soil Testing in Community Gardens by Dr. Candice Hunter
  • Theory Used: Theory of Planned Behavior
  • **Findings: **Behavioral Intention, Attitudes, Subjective Norms, Perceived Control

Example 2: Designing Interventions

  • Project: Smoke-Free Homes
  • Theories Used: Social Cognitive Theory and Stages of Change
  • Components: Mailings, coaching, photo novella
  • Results: Increase in smoke-free homes.

Example 3: Community Level Intervention

  • Project: GATHER in Georgia and Armenia
  • Theory: Community Coalition Action Theory
  • Goals: Smoke-free policies, community coalition strengthening.

Theory in Evaluation

  • Project: Cancer Screening in Safety Net Systems
  • Framework: Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
  • Outcome: Identified factors affecting implementation success.

Discussion and Future Directions

  • Challenges: Misconceptions about theory's practicality.
  • Suggestions: Use theory to guide evaluation and logic models.
  • Future Needs: Develop theories that address multiple levels and social determinants of health.

Conclusion

  • Theory is a valuable tool in public health, guiding intervention design and evaluation.
  • Ongoing need for testing and expanding theories to address emerging public health issues.

Next Steps

  • Next Grand Rounds: March 3, 2021
  • Closing Remarks: Dr. Michelle Kegler thanked for her presentation.