Developing Educational Materials and an Evaluation Tool for Health Fairs to Commemorate National Health Observances

1. Developing Educational Materials and an Evaluation Tool for Health Fairs to Commemorate National Health Observances National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), Health Promotion Department Leslie Richardson MPH Project May 15, 2006

2. Background • National Health Observances are devoted to promoting particular health concerns, and are times that can be used to sponsor events to stimulate awareness of health risks, and/or focus on disease prevention. • NNMC chose to observe: • National Kidney Disease Awareness Month in March • National Health Disparities Month in April • Source: 2006 National Health Observances, National Health Information Center, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC.

3. Background, cont. • Health promotion through education about health issues is essential. • There is a dramatic increase in preventive health orientation (Serina & Giove, 1991). • In the last three decades, the public has shown a growing interest in active participation in individual and family wellness and health promotion (Carter, 1991). • Due to the movement of managed care and health care mainly occurring outside the acute care setting, utilizing community health strategies can help identify factors that threaten the health of individuals, families, and communities and develop strategies to promote and maintain health (Dillon & Sternas, 1997).

4. Significance / Public Health Problem • Kidney disease affects over 20 million Americans and this number continues to increase at astounding rates. • Health disparities in health care access and outcomes exist in six major areas as identified by the Department of Health and Human Services. • Healthy People 2010 set a goal to eliminate health disparities. • Sources: National Institutes of Diabetes andDigestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health. 2nd ed. Washington, DC.

5. Health Fairs Defined • “A health fair can be defined as a voluntary, community-based, cost-effective event used to detect health problems, identify risk factors, and provide educational information and supportive resources to promote healthy lifestyles of its participants” (Dillon & Sternas, 1997). • “A community health education event focused on prevention of disease and promotion of health through audiovisual exhibits” (Carter, 1991).

6. Health Fairs at NNMC • Health fairs are held monthly to stimulate awareness of the month’s health topic and used as a vehicle to promote the programs the Health Promotion Department offers. • The Department plans and implements these health fairs by creating a display and informational materials to distribute to health fair attendees.

7. Materials Development • Determine the types of materials and format. • Display board, fact sheet, and materials from sponsoring organizations. • Conduct research and become familiar with the health topic. • Consider audience when formulating materials (readability). • Military audience from a variety of educational backgrounds. • Develop the first draft of display slides and fact sheet, and go through a series of drafts for both. • Reviewed by Department administrators. • Contact sponsoring organizations, if necessary. • Finalize the display slides and fact sheet, and set up the display.

8. Evaluation Tool Development • Determine the questions to include and the format of the feedback form. • Questions were taken from the Health Fair Evaluation Questionnaire (Dillon & Sternas, 1997) and the Department’s general feedback form. • Develop the first draft of the feedback form, and go through a series of drafts. • Reviewed by Department administrators. • Finalize the feedback form.

9. Limitations • Alack of input from the target audience about the health fairs, and materials created. • Evaluation not prioritized. • No pilot testing of materials or evaluation tool. • Feedback form does not ask questions about previous or current health conditions that may influence the individual to seek health information. • Actual evaluation tool implementation. • Health fair planning occurred too close to the date of the health fair. • Health fair not staffed adequately. • Health fair time and duration. • Minimal advertisement. • No incentives or on-site screenings were provided.

10. Recommendations • Involve the target audience in the planning of the health fairs, and materials development. • Prioritize evaluation, and pilot test the evaluation tool and materials. • Include questions on the evaluation tool about current or previous health conditions. • Start planning health fairs several months in advance. • Adequately staff future health fairs. • Hold the health fairs at a different time. • Extend the duration of the health fairs. • Use several channels to advertise the health fairs. • Use incentives or on-site screenings to attract health fair attendees.

11. Lessons Learned • Application of competencies from MPH coursework, particularly Public Health Informatics and Communication, and my research assistantship. • The process of materials and evaluation tool development. • Evaluation is an important component of health promotion programs and events. • Working in a small department of a government hospital.

12. Thank You! • Dr. Donna E. Howard, Advisor • Dr. Nancy L. Atkinson, Committee Member