Process evaluation of a community-based program for prevention and control of non-communicable disease in a developing country: The Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, Iran.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of mortality in Iran. A six-year, comprehensive, integrated community-based demonstration study entitled Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) conducted in Iran, and it started in 2000. Evaluation and monitoring are integrated parts of this quasi-experimental trial, and consists of process, as well as short and long-term impact evaluations. This paper presents the design of the "process evaluation" for IHHP, and the results pertaining to some interventional strategies that were implemented in workplaces


METHODS
The process evaluation addresses the internal validity of IHHP by ascertaining the degree to which the program was implemented as intended. The IHHP process evaluation is a triangulated study conducted for all interventions at their respective venues. All interventional activities are monitored to determine why and how some are successful and sustainable, to identify mechanisms as well as barriers and facilitators of implementation.


RESULTS
The results suggest that factory workers and managers are satisfied with the interventions. In the current study, success was mainly shaped by the organizational readiness and timing of the implementation. Integrating most of activities of the project to the existing ongoing activities of public health officers in worksites is suggested to be the most effective means of implementation of the health promoting activities in workplaces.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our experience may help other developing countries to plan for similar interventions.
Rabiei
Katayoun
K
Process Evaluation Unit, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.crc@mui.ac.ir
Kelishadi
Roya
R
Sarrafzadegan
Nizal
N
Abedi
Heidar Ali
HA
Alavi
Mousa
M
Heidari
Kamal
K
Bahonar
Ahmad
A
Boshtam
Maryam
M
Zare
Karim
K
Sadeghi
Shahryar
S
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis