A Realistic/Theory of Change Approach to the Evaluation of Health Promotion in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Sandwell

Carroll, Marie Allen; David, Mónica Arrázola; Jacobs, Brian; Judge, Kalvinder; Wilkes, Barry M.

doi:10.1017/s147474640500254x

Cited by 5 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Workplace Health Promotion for SMEs is reported to directly assist in adding value for customers and employees through increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and improved morale (Carroll et al, 2005). It is the latter that emerged as being more important for the participating organisations:…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Carroll (2005) indicated that outcomes were not always measurable or quantifiable in terms of financial or health-related targets. Recording and quantifying benefits appeared to be an element of the programme participants expected the external facilitator to undertake or they were more interested in the less tangible benefits such as noted here:…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, what is not clear from this study are the industries or sectors that these companies represent, or whether the workplace health-promotion programmes are supported by Government funding or external facilitation. Carroll et al (2005) contend from their study of SMEs, workplace health-promotion interventions (WHP) directly assisted in adding value for customers and employees through increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and improved morale. However, the ability to contextualise outcomes associated with workplace health initiatives has often been misplaced by SMEs.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the ability to contextualise outcomes associated with workplace health initiatives has often been misplaced by SMEs. Although desired outcomes frequently emerge during the implementation of a WHP programme, Carroll et al (2005) indicates these outcomes are not always measurable or quantifiable in terms of targets, with examples given including improved sense of well-being and employees feeling more relaxed and therefore suggest outcomes should also encompass a qualitative perspective.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Promoting health in small and medium‐sized enterprises

Williams

Snow

2012

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development

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If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -Workplaces are described as "excellent" locations for promoting health as many employees spend more time here than in other locations, yet, many organisations overlook this opportunity. This paper seeks to examine the inhibitors and enablers that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face when promoting health within their workplaces. Previous research within workplace health promotion has largely focused on large, often multi-national organisations. Design/methodology/approach -A descriptive qualitative approach was adopted which involved interviewing health-promotion champions/co-ordinators within five SMEs located in south Wales in the UK. A thematic content analysis was undertaken and key themes identified. Findings -The results identify key enablers to participating in health-promotion programmes as being an external facilitator and the appointment of an internal health champion/co-ordinator. The main inhibitors were resources, time and the longevity of the external support funded by a government initiative. Practical implications -The paper identifies the enablers and barriers to SMEs promoting workplace health. An adaptation of a framework is provided to assist SME owner/managers to promote workplace health. Originality/value -Few studies have examined the workplace health promoting activities of SMEs and particularly the role of externally supported programmes. This paper fills some of the gaps.

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Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Promoting health in small and medium‐sized enterprises

Williams

Snow

2012

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development

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“…A literature search, covering the last decade and searching CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsychARTICLES, PsycINFO and SocINDEX (through the EBSCO interface) for the term TBE and/or commonly used variants did reveal several UK based evaluations, with formative aims [11,26,27]. For example, adoption of a TBE approach in the evaluation of Health Action Zones in England was described as being intended to enable the evaluation to contribute to the process of learning [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can programme theory be used as a 'translational tool’ to optimise health service delivery in a national early years’ initiative in Scotland: a case study

Eaves

Gnich

2013

BMC Health Serv Res

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BackgroundTheory-based evaluation (TBE) approaches are heralded as supporting formative evaluation by facilitating increased use of evaluative findings to guide programme improvement. It is essential that learning from programme implementation is better used to improve delivery and to inform other initiatives, if interventions are to be as effective as they have the potential to be. Nonetheless, few studies describe formative feedback methods, or report direct instrumental use of findings resulting from TBE. This paper uses the case of Scotland’s, National Health Service, early years’, oral health improvement initiative (Childsmile) to describe the use of TBE as a framework for providing feedback on delivery to programme staff and to assess its impact on programmatic action.MethodsIn-depth, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders explored perceived deviations between the Childsmile programme 'as delivered’ and its Programme Theory (PT). The data was thematically analysed using constant comparative methods. Findings were shared with key programme stakeholders and discussions around likely impact and necessary actions were facilitated by the authors. Documentary review and ongoing observations of programme meetings were undertaken to assess the extent to which learning was acted upon.ResultsOn the whole, the activities documented in Childsmile’s PT were implemented as intended. This paper purposefully focuses on those activities where variation in delivery was evident. Differences resulted from the stage of roll-out reached and the flexibility given to individual NHS boards to tailor local implementation. Some adaptations were thought to have diverged from the central features of Childsmile’s PT, to the extent that there was a risk to achieving outcomes. The methods employed prompted national service improvement action, and proposals for local action by individual NHS boards to address this.ConclusionsThe TBE approach provided a platform, to direct attention to areas of risk within a national health initiative, and to agree which intervention components were 'core’ to its hypothesised success. The study demonstrates that PT can be used as a 'translational tool’ to facilitate instrumental use of evaluative findings to optimise implementation within a complex health improvement programme.

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