Assignment 2 - Simulated Program Case Study

The program for this assignment focused on a prenatal exercise program for Saskatoon Aboriginal women.  The program’s goal was to promote physical activity amongst pregnant Aboriginal women, with the hope that rates of Type 2 Diabetes would decrease. 

I would choose to use both the Scriven – Summative and Formative, and the Provus (DIPPC) models of evaluation for this program.  I would start with evaluating the content of the program and the plans for installing it.  During the program I would evaluate the “process” by questioning the women about their enjoyment of the program, what future activities they would like to see and what additional supports they may need to help them reach their personal goals.  This information could then be used to adapt the program if necessary, to help meet the needs of the participants.  The “product” of this program could be evaluated by gathering data in the health care system to see if the goals were met.  A “cost benefit analysis” would help to recognize if the money spent on this program was worth it and if the preventative measures of this program were of any benefit to our health care system. 

I would conduct “formative” evaluations during this program to help make improvements in advertising of the program and recruiting participants. Formative evaluations would also help to make changes (if any were necessary) to the physical activities, supports and resources that were offered to the women.  The roles of the Aboriginal Project Facilitator, Elder and other program facilitators should be evaluated during the process to determine how efficient they are in helping the participants to reach the goals of the program.  Since this program ran for a two year period, “summative” evaluations should be completed to determine if the goals of the program were met:  Did promoting regular physical activity among pregnant Aboriginal women help to reduce rates of type 2 diabetes in future generations?  Did promoting the regular physical activity help the Aboriginal women to have healthier pregnancies?  What improvements could be made to the program?