Evaluation of Health Education

"By carefully choosing potential options for future action, you can enhance existing activities and encourage greater planning" -WHO

"The process of evaluation is the determination of the degree to which the educational objectives are being accomplished." 1950 Ralph Tyler

Performing an evaluation is the process of learning.

• How well the work was completed
• What was carried out
• Also the next steps
• What is still undone

Importance of Evaluation in Health Education

Evaluation is crucial to health education for the reasons listed below:

• Evaluation is useful in determining the suitability and success of a health education program.
• When constraints are discovered, it aids in recognizing them and offers guidance for changing course based on customer input.
• Aids in the growth of worker confidence in health education and in the right direction of the program's activities.
• Give users the chance to review and fix program faults.
• Gives feedback to help educational programs improve.

Subject Matter

When evaluating a health education program, the following topics are possible:

• Immunization
• Making of super-flour method
• Rehydration solution preparation and use
• Assistance with family planning
• Self-examination of the breast
• Water purification on a small scale
• Postnatal examination
• Washing hands
• Prenatal examination

Time of Evaluation

Iterative evaluation is a method. It is more helpful to evaluate each step of a health education program. It is important to adhere to the next time frame in order to keep an efficient evaluation. As follows:

• Evaluation Before Health Education
  • It is an assessment of the planning phase. Here, evaluation is carried out to ascertain whether the correct planning procedures are followed, objectives are appropriately set to meet the needs of health education, methods and resources are appropriately determined, and a plan of action is appropriately developed. Running the program properly, successfully, and effectively is crucial.
• Evaluation During Health Education Program
  • It is the midterm assessment. Evaluation of progress is another name for it. It tracks how well other short-term goals are being met through altering the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of the targeted population. Increasing clinic attendance, family planning, etc. are a few examples. It investigates if activities are progressing in line with the program's goals. It also points out problems and shortcomings and suggests strategies to make the working practices more appropriate and necessary.
• At the Conclusion of The Health Education
  • It is the final evaluation carried out for the entire program. The outcome of this stage impacts the overall program's success. This final evaluation determines the change in morbidity and mortality rate, improvement in people's socioeconomic conditions, etc. It is also known as an achievement evaluation.

Technique of Conducting Evaluation

With the aid of a questionnaire, observation check-list, etc., an evaluator can employ a variety of methods or techniques. For a thorough evaluation, all or the majority of these techniques should be used.

• Interview
  • It is a two-way, face-to-face conversation started by the interviewer with the express goal of gathering pertinent information. Typically, an interview is conducted with the use of a written questionnaire. The interview should go over a variety of topics related to the health education program, including progress, methods and resources used, change in health knowledge, attitude, and behavior, etc.
• Obsevation
  • It is carried out in a natural setting with the use of a check list. The evaluator can use the information obtained through interviews and can also gather some information through observation. It is possible to observe various human health behaviors, such as latrine use and upkeep, personal hygiene, etc. Participatory observation can be achieved by including interested parties.
• Examination of Office Files and Reports
  • The progress made, problems encountered, comments and suggestions from the supervisor, etc., will all be recorded in the register, report papers, computer, etc., regarding the implementation of the health education program.
• Meeting and Discussions
  • An evaluator can set up meetings and discussions with health educators, their direct managers, and influential members of the community to learn about their thoughts, feelings, and suggestions.