Exploration of the experiences, practices and needs of health promotion professionals when evaluating their interventions and programmes

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe the practices of health promotion professionals when evaluating interventions and their transferability and to identify these professionals' needs in relation to a tool that will guide them during monitoring and evaluation.

Method: A survey was carried out among health promotion actors, which focussed on the interventions they had carried out.

Results: Of the 1017 organisations (covering the whole of France) approached, 246 responded to the survey. More than 60% of the respondents had faced difficulties during the construction of the process evaluation, and more than 50% had faced difficulties during its implementation. These difficulties related to data collection, the conception or choice of indicators, criteria and relevant evaluation tools, and lack of time and personnel. Eighty per cent reported that they had carried out the same action in different places and had been faced with two main obstacles, namely budget and environment. Recognition, positive evaluation, existing collaborations and willingness to work in partnership plus the capacity to adapt to local contexts were identified as factors fostering transferability.

Discussion: Despite the many recommendations available, constructing and carrying out evaluations is not systematic. Actors are confronted with many difficulties, which could be overcome with an IT tool that incorporates the actors' suggestions during its development.

Keywords: Evaluation; Health promotion; Practices; Tool; Transferability.