Table of Contents
Program Evaluation
Accomplishment of Program Objectives
Establishment of Evaluation Timetable
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EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
The evaluation of program effectiveness focuses on how well the program is being marketed and implemented and the reactions of participating employees to the various program components. Some of the factors that can be reviewed to determine whether the program is being properly administered are:
- Did the program reach and help to improve the health habits of those employees at greatest need?
- Was there a high level of awareness of the program?
- Did large numbers of employees participate in the program?
- Did the program achieve high employee satisfaction?
Evaluating the employees' awareness is one of the fundamental steps in evaluating wellness programs. An employee survey can be administered to address the employees' knowledge of the existence of the program, the kinds of activities included in the program, the methods for enrolling or participating in the programs, etc. The responses to this survey will help you determine whether the program is adequately communicated and understood by your employees. This survey can also be used to solicit feedback regarding the reasons why employees have not elected to participate in the program. A question could be included in the survey which asks the employee to check the reasons for non-participation. Some of the reasons listed on the form could include the following:
- Not aware of the program
- Not motivated or interested in participating
- Class locations are too far away from my work site
- Courses, seminars, etc. are not scheduled at convenient times
- Restrictive commuting schedule or car pool arrangements
- Brown baggers/seminars don't cover topics of interest
- Exercise classes/equipment are inadequate to fit needs
Another key indicator of the program's success is the level of employee participation. Has the program been successful in attracting and keeping participants? This can be measured by tracking the number of employees who participate in the various brown bag seminars, attend the health education classes, attend the health fairs, participate in the health screenings or exercise classes, etc. Some of the methods that can be used to track participation data include sign-in or attendance sheets and self-reporting participation logs.
A final measure of program effectiveness is the participants' satisfaction with the program content, the instructors, the materials, the facilities, etc. Employees' satisfaction with the program can have a major impact upon their perception of the quality of the program. It can also play a key role in the employees' decision to continue participating in the program. Administering employee satisfaction surveys can provide information on what elements of the program the employees like and dislike and can identify areas where you may need to fine tune or modify the program. Using an evaluation form which participants can complete after attending a brown bag seminar or health education class is another way of eliciting information regarding their satisfaction.
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Background