Using evaluation to adapt health information outreach to the complex environments of community-based organizations.
OBJECTIVE
After arguing that most community-based organizations (CBOs) function as complex adaptive systems, this white paper describes the evaluation goals, questions, indicators, and methods most important at different stages of community-based health information outreach.


RESULTS
This paper presents the basic characteristics of complex adaptive systems and argues that the typical CBO can be considered this type of system. It then presents evaluation as a tool for helping outreach teams adapt their outreach efforts to the CBO environment and thus maximize success. Finally, it describes the goals, questions, indicators, and methods most important or helpful at each stage of evaluation (community assessment, needs assessment and planning, process evaluation, and outcomes assessment).


METHODS
Literature from complex adaptive systems as applied to health care, business, and evaluation settings is presented. Evaluation models and applications, particularly those based on participatory approaches, are presented as methods for maximizing the effectiveness of evaluation in dynamic CBO environments.


CONCLUSIONS
If one accepts that CBOs function as complex adaptive systems-characterized by dynamic relationships among many agents, influences, and forces-then effective evaluation at the stages of community assessment, needs assessment and planning, process evaluation, and outcomes assessment is critical to outreach success.
Olney
Cynthia A
CA
P.O. Box 4891 Greensboro, North Carolina 27404.
D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D018966:Library Materials / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007999:Library Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States