Assessing Health Program Delivery from Coursera

This course provides in-depth knowledge about implementation strength, quality of care, and service utilization, which are essential components of health program delivery. This course is primarily aimed at implementers, managers, funders, and evaluators of health programs in low- and middle-income settings (LMISs) targeting women and children, and undergraduate and graduate students in health-related fields.

Those who complete this course successfully will be able to:

1. Explain why assessing health program delivery is an essential part of any large-scale program evaluation in LMISs.

2. Design an assessment of delivery for a health program in a LMIS, including proposed documentation of the program, indicators, measurement methods and tools, relevant contextual factors, and a plan for data analysis.

3. Interpret assessment results in the context of a large-scale effectiveness evaluation, and explain how they can be used to improve program policies and implementation.

4. Describe the RADAR tools for assessing implementation strength and the quality of care, and access guidelines for the use of the tools.

The development of this course was supported by a grant from Government Affairs Canada (GAC) for the Real Accountability, Data Analysis for Results (RADAR) project.

What's inside

Syllabus

Getting started in the course

Deciding WHAT to assess

Data Sources and Data Collection Methods

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches strategies for assessing and improving large-scale program delivery in low- and middle-income settings

Develops skills in designing, implementing, and interpreting assessments of health program delivery, which are valuable for program managers and evaluators

Emphasizes the use of the RADAR tools for assessing implementation strength and quality of care, which are recognized and widely used in the field

Offers guidance on using assessment results to improve program policies and implementation practices, making it directly applicable to real-world program management

Instructed by experts in the field of health program evaluation, ensuring the credibility and relevance of the course content

Reviews summary

Assessing health program delivery: practical tools

According to students, this course provides a comprehensive deep dive into assessing health program delivery, particularly valuable for those working in low- and middle-income settings (LMISs). Learners found the lectures well-structured and the content highly relevant, with many appreciating the focus on using evaluation results for program improvement. The RADAR tools are clearly explained and considered a game-changer by many. While the course offers a strong foundation, some students suggest it could benefit from more hands-on practical exercises, especially for seasoned professionals seeking advanced applications, or additional support for data analysis.

Effectively introduces and explains the practical RADAR assessment tools.

"The RADAR tools were clearly explained with practical examples. I feel much more confident."

"The RADAR tools are described, making them accessible. I particularly liked the focus on how to use assessment results."

"The RADAR tools are a game-changer. The course flows logically and the video lectures are easy to follow."

Covers essential components from planning to data analysis thoroughly.

"The lectures were well-structured and the assignments reinforced the concepts effectively."

"The content is very relevant for those working in global health. I found sections on data collection extremely useful."

"A comprehensive overview of health program delivery assessment. The course material is robust."

Delivers actionable skills for real-world health program evaluation.

"This course provided a deep dive into assessing health program delivery. The focus on LMIS contexts was particularly valuable."

"I've already started applying the principles learned here to my current projects. It directly addresses challenges."

"I gained a clear understanding of why delivery assessment is crucial and how to design one effectively."

Ideal for those new to evaluation; seasoned pros might seek advanced content.

"It's a good introduction, especially for students, but I was hoping for more practical exercises."

"As a seasoned professional, I was looking for more advanced insights and less foundational theory."

"The content is solid for beginners or those new to health program evaluation, but it didn't quite push me to the next level."

Some learners wished for more practical exercises and application.

"While the RADAR tools are interesting, I felt the application might require more hands-on practice than the course offered."

"I was hoping for more practical exercises. The RADAR tools are described, but using them in a real scenario felt less explored."

"I felt some concepts, especially around data analysis, could benefit from more detailed examples or supplemental resources."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Assessing Health Program Delivery with these activities:

Practice RADAR tool implementation

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Practicing using the RADAR tools to assess implementation strength and quality of care will solidify your understanding and skills in using these tools.

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Find a relevant health program in a low- and middle-income setting (LMIS).
Gather data on the program's implementation strength and quality of care using the RADAR tools.
Analyze the data to identify areas for improvement.

Develop a health program delivery assessment plan

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Creating a comprehensive plan for assessing health program delivery will force you to think critically about the key factors to consider and how to collect and analyze the data you need.

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Identify the purpose and objectives of the assessment.
Select appropriate indicators and measurement methods.
Develop a data collection plan.
Describe how the data will be analyzed and used.

Practice data collection techniques

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Practice data collection techniques to reinforce your understanding of how to gather data effectively.

Browse courses on Data Collection

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Identify a research question and develop a data collection plan
Collect data using a variety of methods, such as surveys, interviews, and observations
Analyze the data and identify trends and patterns
Draw conclusions and make recommendations based on the data

One other activity

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Learn about the RADAR tools for evaluating health program delivery

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Learn about the RADAR tools for evaluating health program delivery to gain hands-on experience with the assessment methods.

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Review the RADAR tools manual and online resources
Attend a workshop or webinar on the RADAR tools
Apply the RADAR tools to a real-world health program
Share your results with colleagues and stakeholders

Career center

Learners who complete Assessing Health Program Delivery will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Health Program Manager

Health Program Managers plan, implement, and evaluate health programs to improve public health. Coursework in Assessing Health Program Delivery can help build a foundation for understanding the components of health program delivery and how to assess them, making graduates more effective in their roles.

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Public Health Analyst

Public Health Analysts use data to develop and evaluate public health programs. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course can help Public Health Analysts gain the knowledge and skills needed to assess the implementation, quality, and utilization of health programs, allowing them to make more informed decisions.

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Global Health Specialist

Global Health Specialists work to improve health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Coursework in Assessing Health Program Delivery can help Global Health Specialists understand the challenges and opportunities of delivering health programs in these settings, and how to assess their effectiveness.

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Program Evaluator

Program Evaluators assess the effectiveness of social and health programs. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course provides Program Evaluators with the knowledge and skills needed to design and conduct assessments of health programs, ensuring that they are implemented effectively and achieve desired outcomes.

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Health Policy Analyst

Health Policy Analysts develop and analyze health policies and programs. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course can help Health Policy Analysts understand the process of developing and implementing health programs, and how to evaluate their effectiveness.

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Health Economist

Health Economists analyze the economic impact of health programs and policies. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course may be useful for Health Economists who are interested in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of health programs.

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Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and assistance to individuals and families facing social and health challenges. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course can provide Social Workers with the knowledge and skills needed to assess the needs of clients and develop effective interventions.

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Nurse

Nurses provide care to patients in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course may be useful for Nurses who are involved in program development and evaluation.

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Doctor

Doctors provide medical care to patients. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course may be useful for Doctors who are involved in program development and evaluation.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct research to develop new knowledge and technologies. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course may be useful for Research Scientists who are interested in evaluating the effectiveness of health programs.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and expertise to organizations. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course can provide Consultants with the knowledge and skills needed to assess the effectiveness of health programs.

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Teacher

Teachers educate students in a variety of subjects. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course may be useful for Teachers who are interested in teaching health education.

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Writer

Writers create content for a variety of purposes. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course may be useful for Writers who are interested in writing about health programs.

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Editor

Editors review and edit written content. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course may be useful for Editors who are interested in working on health-related content.

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Librarian

Librarians organize and manage information resources. The Assessing Health Program Delivery course may be useful for Librarians who are interested in working with health-related information.

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