Department of Health Policy and Management

Permanent URI for this community

https://hdl.handle.net/1805/5091

Browse

Browsing Department of Health Policy and Management by Author "Ahonen, Emily Q."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Alpha test results for a Housing First eLearning strategy: the value of multiple qualitative methods for intervention design
    (BMC, 2017-10-31) Ahonen, Emily Q.; Watson, Dennis P.; Adams, Erin L.; McGuire, Alan; Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health
    Background Detailed descriptions of implementation strategies are lacking, and there is a corresponding dearth of information regarding methods employed in implementation strategy development. This paper describes methods and findings related to the alpha testing of eLearning modules developed as part of the Housing First Technical Assistance and Training (HFTAT) program’s development. Alpha testing is an approach for improving the quality of a product prior to beta (i.e., real world) testing with potential applications for intervention development. Methods Ten participants in two cities tested the modules. We collected data through (1) a structured log where participants were asked to record their experiences as they worked through the modules; (2) a brief online questionnaire delivered at the end of each module; and (3) focus groups. Results The alpha test provided useful data related to the acceptability and feasibility of eLearning as an implementation strategy, as well as identifying a number of technical issues and bugs. Each of the qualitative methods used provided unique and valuable information. In particular, logs were the most useful for identifying technical issues, and focus groups provided high quality data regarding how the intervention could best be used as an implementation strategy. Conclusions Alpha testing was a valuable step in intervention development, providing us an understanding of issues that would have been more difficult to address at a later stage of the study. As a result, we were able to improve the modules prior to pilot testing of the entire HFTAT. Researchers wishing to alpha test interventions prior to piloting should balance the unique benefits of different data collection approaches with the need to minimize burdens for themselves and participants. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40814-017-0187-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Development and testing of an implementation strategy for a complex housing intervention: protocol for a mixed methods study
    (BioMed Central, 2014) Watson, Dennis P.; Young, Jeani; Ahonen, Emily Q.; Xu, Huiping; Henderson, Macey; Shuman, Valery; Tolliver, Randi; Department of Health Policy and Management, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
    Background: There is currently a lack of scientifically designed and tested implementation strategies. Such strategies are particularly important for highly complex interventions that require coordination between multiple parts to be successful. This paper presents a protocol for the development and testing of an implementation strategy for a complex intervention known as the Housing First model (HFM). Housing First is an evidence-based practice for chronically homeless individuals demonstrated to significantly improve a number of outcomes. Methods/design: Drawing on practices demonstrated to be useful in implementation and e-learning theory, our team is currently adapting a face-to-face implementation strategy so that it can be delivered over a distance. Research activities will be divided between Chicago and Central Indiana, two areas with significantly different barriers to HFM implementation. Ten housing providers (five from Chicago and five from Indiana) will be recruited to conduct an alpha test of each of four e-learning modules as they are developed. Providers will be requested to keep a detailed log of their experience completing the modules and participate in one of two focus groups. After refining the modules based on alpha test results, we will test the strategy among a sample of four housing organizations (two from Chicago and two from Indiana). We will collect and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data from administration and staff. Measures of interest include causal factors affecting implementation, training outcomes, and implementation outcomes. Discussion: This project is an important first step in the development of an evidence-based implementation strategy to increase scalability and impact of the HFM. The project also has strong potential to increase limited scientific knowledge regarding implementation strategies in general.