title: Evaluation from start to finish: Incorporating comprehensive assessment into a training program for public health professionals.
abstract: This article examines the role of a comprehensive evaluation process in the context of a program to enhance use of the Internet by public health professionals. The Public Health Information Link for Nevada incorporated training and Web site development into a program to raise levels of awareness and competence of the public health professional. Evaluation played a key and ongoing role in the planning and implementation phases and made a marked contribution to the overall effectiveness of the project. Evaluation contributed to the ability to make midprogram adjustments, thereby enhancing user satisfaction and confidence. Participant evaluations indicated significant improvement in self-perceived competence in utilizing the Internet for job-related activities. The authors conclude that the effort to integrate evaluation in an ongoing manner is balanced by the value of continuous feedback. A Web site review checklist, which will be useful to public health professionals who are developing new Web sites, is appended.
authors.affiliation: Center for Education and Health Services Outreach, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Henner
mesh_terms: D040381:Education, Public Health Professional / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009505:Nevada