Mixed Methods Approach to Evaluating a Community Based Interventions

Abstract

Background: Following the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 among African Americans sub-population in rural South Georgia, there was a call to increase access to health services, promote health literacy as it relates to COVID-19 and decrease vaccine hesitancy. One such program was funded by the Office of Minority Health, Health and Human Services, and is being implemented in partnership by the Albany State University and the City of Albany.

Methods: Mixed methods evaluation following a quasi-experiment design was developed to evaluate the program impact on increasing health literacy and reducing vaccine hesitancy. We are at this time collecting secondary data on vaccination rate, stratified by race, age and income and self-reported primary data on program participation, awareness, and outcomes such as program reviews, and self-reported vaccine hesitancy, and health literacy. We will also be conducting focus group interviews in Spring 2023. The analysis strategy will be a trend analysis on vaccination rates, bivariate analysis on program participation and willingness to vaccinate if not vaccinated, and higher acceptance of vaccination compared to the comparison site.

Anticipated results: By May 2023 we anticipate results on program participants awareness of ways to prevent infection and reduce severity of COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy, and perception on vaccine uptake strategies. The results will also include findings from the focus group interviews on best practices to COVID-19 awareness and lessons learned. Results will also include the impact of the program on vaccination rates.

Conclusion: Combining these various measures, we hope to create a comprehensive evaluation of a community-based health literacy program to identify the most effective health literacy program practices.

Keywords

Evaluation; Mixed methods; Health Literacy; Vaccine Hesitancy, Rural Health; Health Disparities;

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 

Mixed Methods Approach to Evaluating a Community Based Interventions

Background: Following the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 among African Americans sub-population in rural South Georgia, there was a call to increase access to health services, promote health literacy as it relates to COVID-19 and decrease vaccine hesitancy. One such program was funded by the Office of Minority Health, Health and Human Services, and is being implemented in partnership by the Albany State University and the City of Albany.

Methods: Mixed methods evaluation following a quasi-experiment design was developed to evaluate the program impact on increasing health literacy and reducing vaccine hesitancy. We are at this time collecting secondary data on vaccination rate, stratified by race, age and income and self-reported primary data on program participation, awareness, and outcomes such as program reviews, and self-reported vaccine hesitancy, and health literacy. We will also be conducting focus group interviews in Spring 2023. The analysis strategy will be a trend analysis on vaccination rates, bivariate analysis on program participation and willingness to vaccinate if not vaccinated, and higher acceptance of vaccination compared to the comparison site.

Anticipated results: By May 2023 we anticipate results on program participants awareness of ways to prevent infection and reduce severity of COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy, and perception on vaccine uptake strategies. The results will also include findings from the focus group interviews on best practices to COVID-19 awareness and lessons learned. Results will also include the impact of the program on vaccination rates.

Conclusion: Combining these various measures, we hope to create a comprehensive evaluation of a community-based health literacy program to identify the most effective health literacy program practices.