Health Impact Assessment as a framework for evaluation of local complex projects.
Health impact assessment (HIA) has been used to predict effects of a local parenting strategy and develop an evaluation framework. Methods used included literature searches, inequalities profiling, interviews with key informants and a review of available cost data. Four priority areas, where parenting can potentially impact, were identified: education, antisocial behaviour, lifestyle choices and mental health. The results concerning mental health are presented here. Improving the quality of parenting can impact on a child's mental health. The costs relating to the mental health outcomes are high and parenting is a cost-effective method to address the family dynamics that impact on this. Intermediary indicators, including clear boundaries, time spent as a family and parental involvement can be used to evaluate the intervention in the short-term, although there are difficulties in their measurement. The HIA process can improve cross-sectorial working, increased community participation and keep inequalities on the agenda.
Heath
Lucy
L
South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust.
D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000379:methods*; D003256:Community Participation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004739:England; D006292:Health Priorities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008603:Mental Health; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000379:methods*; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration