Methodological issues in emergent evaluations of health programs : lessons from Iberoamerica

• There has been growing interest in nonmainstream approaches to assessing health programs, but methodological strategies have not been a concern. In this article, we review methodological strategies used in emergent evaluations of health policies and programs in Iberoamerica, focusing on participatory, qualitative, critical, hermeneutical, bottom-up, collaborative, and transdisciplinary approaches. A literature search was performed combining strategies: database review, consultation of bibliography, expert interviews, and search engines. The review took place from 2003 to 2006. Research published in the past two decades was included. Nearly 70 articles were found on emergent research and evaluation of health programs in the region. Participatory and qualitative approaches were the most used. Theoretical issues are more emphasized than are methodological ones. Data gathering also was more explored than were design, participant selection, or analysis. The frequently used methodological strategies contradict some basic assumptions of the emergent evaluative research, such as its participatory and collaborative nature.

Subject headings

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskaper -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Evaluation research

health

program evaluation

qualitative methods

general

Public health science

Folkhälsovetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)