Kristina M Rabarison1, Lava Timsina1, Glen P Mays1. 1. Kristina M. Rabarison, Lava Timsina, and Glen P. Mays are with the College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the likelihood of chronic disease prevention activities delivery, as a proxy measure of public health decision-making and actions, given that local health agencies (LHAs) implemented a community health assessment and improvement plan in their communities. METHODS: Using a propensity score matching approach, we linked data from the 2010 National Association of County and City Health Officials profile of LHAs and the 2010 County Health Rankings to create a statistically matched sample of implementation and comparison LHAs. Implementation LHAs were those that implemented a community health assessment and improvement plan. We estimated the odds of chronic disease prevention activities delivery and the average treatment effect on the treated. RESULTS: Implementation group LHAs were 2 times as likely (95% confidence interval = 1.60, 2.64) to deliver population-based chronic disease prevention programs than comparison group LHAs. Furthermore, chronic disease prevention activities were more likely to be delivered among implementation group LHAs (6.50-19.02 percentage points higher) than in comparison group LHAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results signal that routine implementation of a community health assessment and improvement plan in LHAs leads to improved public health decision-making and actions.
OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the likelihood of chronic disease prevention activities delivery, as a proxy measure of public health decision-making and actions, given that local health agencies (LHAs) implemented a community health assessment and improvement plan in their communities. METHODS: Using a propensity score matching approach, we linked data from the 2010 National Association of County and City Health Officials profile of LHAs and the 2010 County Health Rankings to create a statistically matched sample of implementation and comparison LHAs. Implementation LHAs were those that implemented a community health assessment and improvement plan. We estimated the odds of chronic disease prevention activities delivery and the average treatment effect on the treated. RESULTS: Implementation group LHAs were 2 times as likely (95% confidence interval = 1.60, 2.64) to deliver population-based chronic disease prevention programs than comparison group LHAs. Furthermore, chronic disease prevention activities were more likely to be delivered among implementation group LHAs (6.50-19.02 percentage points higher) than in comparison group LHAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results signal that routine implementation of a community health assessment and improvement plan in LHAs leads to improved public health decision-making and actions.
Authors: Gulzar H Shah; Carolyn J Leep; Jiali Ye; Katie Sellers; Rivka Liss-Levinson; Karmen S Williams Journal: J Public Health Manag Pract Date: 2015 Mar-Apr