title: Methods for evaluating a mature substance abuse prevention/early intervention program.
abstract: The authors describe methods for work in progress to evaluate four workplace prevention and/or early intervention programs designed to change occupational norms and reduce substance abuse at a major U.S. transportation company. The four programs are an employee assistance program, random drug testing, managed behavioral health care, and a peer-led intervention program. An elaborate mixed-methods evaluation combines data collection and analysis techniques from several traditions. A process-improvement evaluation focuses on the peer-led component to describe its evolution, document the implementation process for those interested in replicating it, and provide information for program improvement. An outcome-assessment evaluation examines impacts of the four programs on job performance measures (e.g., absenteeism, turnover, injury, and disability rates) and includes a cost-offset and employer cost-savings analysis. Issues related to using archival data, combining qualitative and quantitative designs, and working in a corporate environment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Safety and Health Policy Program, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Landover, MD 20785, USA. becker@pire.org
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D017046:Cost Savings; D003376:Counseling; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D006801:Humans; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010379:Peer Group; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States