Monitoring of a health programme - Essay Example

?Running Head: Monitoring of Health Programme Monitoring of Health Programme [Institute’s Table of Contents Table of Contents 2Summary of the Monitoring of Health Programme 3 Purpose of Monitoring 4 Analysis of the Stakeholders 6 Indicators for Monitoring 7 Key Research Questions 8 Data Collection Technique 10 Financial, Human and other Resources Required for Monitoring 11 Timeline 12 Dissemination and Utilization of Monitoring Information by the Stakeholders 14 Summary of the Monitoring of Health Programme In this disease-infested world, numerous government and non-government organizations in the world are working for betterment of public health. MEND is one of the health programmes that have come under development with prime vision of “a world where we all live fitter, healthier, and happier lives” (MEND, 2011). MEND has principal focus on promotion of healthy lifestyle by efficient measures to lose weight. For this purpose, they made their programmes accessible and affordable for whole community irrespective of gender, financial background, and social class (MEND, 2011). According to research, it is a misconception that the child will lose its weight and become slimmer over time. Most of the parents lack knowledge on child obesity and fail to notice signs of overweight in their children. Instead, they mistake it to be normal growth and consider obesity as healthy growth. Preventing and curbing the horrendous effects of child obesity is the MEND’s goal, which would beget to achieving their objective of healthy lifestyle (MEND, 2011). MEND also focus on treatments of the people with heavy weight. In fact, educating people is another significant aspect of MEND. They work in collaboration with several other concerned organizations including several health institutes and hospitals that are working for the betterment of child health in order to make their measures successful. They practice creative strategies to encourage people to participate actively and enthusiastically in their programmes. Furthermore, they emphasize greatly on healthy food consumption and regular physical activities. The most phenomenal aspect is their up-to-date professionals and educators having the most recent health and disease related research (MEND, 2011). MEND has came under initiation by professionals who guide and train participants in the domain of diet, nutrition, and physical fitness so that best possible results can come under achievement. The organizers ensure that the programme is actually benefiting children by keeping a strict check of their improvement regarding weight loss. They even track the progress of their health after completion of the programme to monitor its effectiveness, make appropriate changes in the ongoing programmes and outline new ones accordingly (MEND, 2011). With association of schools, MEND makes use of valuable teaching resources to educate children on the need of being physically healthy, as it will aid them to be active, efficient, develop confidence, and lead a safer life with contentment and happiness (MEND, 2011). Purpose of Monitoring Health enormities and deadly diseases affect youngsters, due to which, a number of health programs have come under initiation promoting ways to maintain a healthy life. However, only starting a programme is not sufficient, as monitoring and evaluation are of equal importance. Monitoring is like a channel that involves taking account of ongoing activities and its effects upon the stakeholders. Moreover, through monitoring of the health programme, effectiveness of the activities to achieve goals can come under limelight (Longest, 2004, pp. 43-44). Nonetheless, following are few of the essential reasons due to which monitoring for a programme becomes indispensable: Monitoring of the working of the programme Monitoring helps in identifying extent, the activities of the programme are useful for the target audience. It also brings to forefront, the information related to the wholeheartedness with which people of the society have accepted the health programme. In addition, the organizers and sponsors would get an opportunity to assess the process and usefulness of their investment in the form of hard work and capital (Issel, 2009, pp. 287-297). Monitoring helps Strengthen Potential Programmes The monitoring of ongoing sessions arranged as part of the health programme can come under utilization for assessing their effectiveness in achieving required goals and satisfying the audience with what they expected. Surveys from the participants can come under performance for this purpose. This would allow proper planning and amendments for the staff, management, and current programmes to gain optimum success. Moreover, it would assist in itemizing the resources, donation campaigns, educational materials and the methods or techniques used for the programme (Murray and Evans, 2003, pp. 716-717). Monitoring can help Standardizing Programme Approach Monitoring and regulation reflects beneficial happenings and laggings of the programme. This reflection provides a clear picture to all the stakeholders associated with the programme about successful aims and actions, factors that are causing hindrance and the response of the participants. This would serve as an outline for the executive and government level people and common people to understand need and urge of such programmes, thus resulting in increased resources under the financial, social, and political scenarios (Issel, 2009, pp. 287-297). Monitoring helps get new health professionals as Volunteers It has also been an observation that with sharing and distribution of monitoring of health programme reports, an opportunity develops creating a center of attention for new volunteers to engage into the programme. This is because it extends the network of professionals that become a source of attraction for numerous new volunteers (Issel, 2009, pp. 287-297). Monitoring as a Road to Future Planning With quality, outcomes from the capital invested in a particular programme would persuade the donors and sponsors to continue funding the future programmes. The report can also indicate and highlight any amendments needed in the policy of the programme to attain maximum results (Murray and Evans, 2003, pp. 716-717). Monitoring enables thorough understanding about the health issue An understanding that obesity is begetting to lethal diseases would develop even amongst the non-participants from dissemination of reports of the monitoring of the health programme. This way the monitoring of the health programme would tend to become a foundation stone for all the other related programmes on a global arena that can take benefit from it for performing their activities and developing effective strategies (Issel, 2009, pp. 287-297). Analysis of the Stakeholders Stakeholders are those individuals who directly or indirectly come under affect by the activities and approaches designed in the health programme. They include: Participants (children) Health care Providers (MEND) Programme Managers and Organizers (MEND) Fund providing Bodies Government and other non-profit Organizations Participants (that are children) are the primary beneficiaries of the programme, as they are the ones for whom the programme has come under design. The programme should consider the factor that all the participants regardless of their gender and class have accessibility. Besides, each individual must be able to afford to take benefit from the programme. They play an influential role in the programme as the future activities, planning lays their foundation on the feedbacks, and responses of the participants (MEND, 2011). Health care providers are significant due to the reason that the success or failure of the programme is entirely dependent upon their performances, behaviors, and the way they carry out the health care sessions (obesity control). Target audience would only benefit if the health care professionals are competent, humble, and cooperative and deliver the lessons effectively (MEND, 2011). Programme managers and organizers are the direct stakeholders for evaluating and monitoring the health programme as the success of the programme would boost their confidence and provide them with opportunities to launch similar types of programme nationally and internationally. Organizers and programme managers would also be able to recognize their weak areas and strong points from the analysis of monitoring, which would help them develop strategic plans accordingly (Gosling and Edwards, 2003, pp. 12-13). Fund providing bodies would use the evaluation report to ensure whether their investments and capital comes under utilization in the correct area and people are getting quality outcomes from the funded programme (Gosling and Edwards, 2003, pp. 12-13). The evaluation report of the monitoring would become a source of information that government and non-government organizations would use to identify the demand, quality, and success of the programme. This would convince them to support the organizers with respect to social and political issues regarding the programme (Gosling and Edwards, 2003, pp. 12-13). Indicators for Monitoring Indicators aid in sketching a picture of the ongoing growth of the health programme towards achievement of aims and goals (Pencheon and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (Great Britain), 2008, pp. 1-2). However, pertaining to the health programme named as MEND, following are the indicators and their outcomes: (MEND, 2011) Key Indicator / Activity Major Outcomes Training, Educating children about importance of health and fitness Increased knowledge and understanding amongst the children and their parents about hazards of obesity and Treatment of obese children Children followed the health and fitness practices on a long term basis, even after completion of the programme Awareness amongst Parents Increased awareness amongst parents related to the healthy growth of the children in comparison to children putting on extra weight Open and free for all Individuals All family members are welcomed at free of cost, thus resulting in increased number of families for the health programme More Active Health Motivate the participants and their families to live and maintain a healthy culture through proper diet and physical activity. Dedicated teams of dietitians, nutritionists, physical activity experts and behaviour change specialists Increased level of satisfaction amongst the participants as they see that they are getting what they came for. It is also a source of attraction for donors and new volunteers for the programme Key Research Questions With respect to the programme, following questions are essential that must come under consideration: How many health professionals come under employment under this programme? How many participants that comprise of children are parts of this programme? In how many groups are the participant children come under division? What is the criterion of division of participants into groups (for example age, gender, social class)? How many individuals and volunteers have come under training as health professionals? How many children have achieved the standard criterion of health and fitness as consequence of this programme? How many hospitals and health centers are treating the patients of obesity as part of this programme? Are the number of hospitals and health centers are adequate for the treatment in order to meet the goals of the programme? What are the measures of training and treatment used for the children? Are these medications appropriate with regard to the age factor? Are the physical activities that come under performance according to the resistance power? How frequently do the research activities for the professionals come under performance? Is there any work coming under performance that promotes and create awareness about the health programme amongst the masses? (for instance, through newspaper advertisements, advertising campaigns, distribution of flyers and many more of this sort) Is the cost of the treatments and education of the health equal for all participants in the programme? Is there any sort of incentives or concessions provided upon request with regard to the financial status? The monitoring must also come under evaluation in order to have accurate results for auxiliary strategies, however, following questions needs to come under concern the monitoring process: Are the objectives of the programme, which came under design initially, matching the activities and action plans of the programme? Are the methods that come under utilization for data collection and dissemination complimenting the form of information gathering from the monitoring programme? Is the monitoring process effective? Are there any changes required? If yes, what kind of changes is necessary? To what extent are the ways in which the monitoring information comes under publicizing and usage efficient? Data Collection Technique Data collection technique is an approach used by the statisticians and data analysts who convert data into meaningful information. Concerning the case of the health programme that has the key focus on the health and fitness of obese children, the data measuring techniques that can come under implementation are quantitative and qualitative approach. With help of the qualitative data technique, analysts would be able to determine frequency of the perceptions, viewpoints, and level of satisfaction of the selected sample population concerning treatments and education coming under provision through the programme. The statistical information from close-ended questions helps the data analyst to transfer into valuable and objective information. Furthermore, weak areas would also come under vision that would provide the programme managers to have amendments according to needs and demands of the participants, ensuring maximum benefit from the programme on a long-term basis (Pope and Mays, 2006, pp. 1-4). However, qualitative data from the participants of the programme is also very crucial concerning the matter of health and fitness of the children. The open-ended questions prove to be favorable and valuable, as the feedbacks and responses provided by such participants can come under utilization for the betterment of the programme for future activities. Moreover, with the help of participants’ feedbacks, the programme managers would have the occasion to build and enhance a much more sustainable approach for programme that can provide enduring benefits to the children (Bruce, Pope and Stanistreet, 2008, pp. 1-5). The initial survey would include more or less 450 respondents or children and would come under application on a 24-month intervention. Financial, Human and other Resources Required for Monitoring The process of monitoring the health programme is an enduring process that requires supervising, examining, and recording of activities on a day-to-day basis, therefore, following is the list of resources that needs to come under specification. Human Resources Unbiased and evenhanded Data Recording Professionals is a key requirement that can perform the operational procedures of the monitoring of health programme. The other human resource for the programme monitoring includes the Data Analysts. These hired professionals would perform the task of analyzing the monitored data and transforming it into valuable information. Additionally, they would be responsible for providing their critical feedbacks and responses about the monitored data to the health programme managers and organizers. For the subsequent level, key professionals include Statisticians and Information Officers that would engage them in the development of the Report derived from the outcome of the monitoring analysis and indicators on a constant basis. Financial Resources Apart from human resources, financial resources are also a necessity during the process of monitoring. This includes the overheads for everyday routine work such as transportation, stationary and other fragile things. The cost of training the people for carrying out the entire course of action of monitoring would also add to the financial expenses. Once the process of monitoring comes under completion, the expenditure for the transfer and broadcasting of the results to the stakeholders would come under addition. Timeline The procedure of monitoring has come under division into three levels: operational level, intermediate level and central level. Operational Level Operational level is the initial level that would come under exercise for documenting and tracking down the everyday happenings, activities, and actions. Data recording officers come under requirement in order to carry out the activities of collecting and recoding the data through various means. Intermediate Level The subsequent level is the transitional or intermediary level. This level has need of recruited professionals that can perform and achieve the task of examining the monitored data and convert that raw data into consequential and evocative information. This intermediate level also requires carrying out the tasks of critical feedbacks and comments about the monitored data that can come under presentation to the health programme managers and organizers. Central Level The last level is the central level, which is the most critical one. This level entails key professionals that would prepare the Reports derived from the outcome of the monitoring analysis and indicators. This report would propagate amongst all the stakeholders on timely basis. It is crucial as the stakeholders needs to come under assurance that their resources and capital is coming under correct utilization. Below is the timeline to perform the activities: Task Name Date Date Date Date Date Date 1 Quantitative / Qualitative Research 1st – 3rd week 2 Distribution of Questionnaires 4th week 3 Collection of Questionnaires 6th week 4 Analysis of Questionnaires 5th – 7th week 5 Writing and presenting Draft of Dissertation with findings of analyzed data 8th – 10th week 6 Data Dissemination Process 11th week Key: task milestone Following is the budget that can come under deployment for the implementation of the monitoring of health programme: Components / Activities Unit Cost Qty Total Cost (in Euros) Human Resource Data Recording Officer 450 50 22,500 Data Analyst 4,000 5 20,000 Head Information Officer 6,250 1 6,250 Statisticians 8,500 1 8,500 Training Training of Data Recording Officer 40 50 2,000 Financial Resource Transportation 9,000 2 18,000 Fuel and Maintenance (approximate) 1,800 2 3,600 Consumables / Stationary (approximate) 950 1 950 Dissemination Workshops 500 2 1,000 Publications 350 1 350 Mailing (approximate) 350 1 350 Contingency 5 % of the total budget 4,175 TOTAL COST 87,675 Dissemination and Utilization of Monitoring Information by the Stakeholders From the above analysis, the importance of monitoring a health programme has come under limelight; however, the process of dissemination of the information is of equally significant. The distribution of the report of monitoring to the stakeholders is imperative as the future activities profoundly depends upon the results of monitoring. Furthermore, it also hoards time and resources of creating duplicate monitoring efforts for similar types of programme. Besides, such reports also create the ability to learn that leads to commendable improvements for other programs. In fact, the monitoring reports become a cornerstone for potential programmes (Gorgens-Albino, Gorgens and Kusek, 2010, pp. 433-444). However, regarding the dissemination of the monitoring reports, workshops and publications are the two most feasible and reasonable methods that can come under practice for the broadcasting of monitoring information to the stakeholders. The workshops and publications must come under performance on timely basis so that each stakeholder keeps then updated with the latest and current information about the programme initiatives (Dalal-Clayton, Bass and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2002, pp. 324-326). Indeed, regardless of class and gender equity, the monitoring report of the health programme must come under distribution to all the stakeholders, so that everybody can have benefit from such report. References Bruce, Nigel, Pope, Daniel, and Stanistreet, Debbi. 2008. Quantitative methods for health research: a practical interactive guide to epidemiology and statistics. John Wiley and Sons. Dalal-Clayton, D. Barry, Bass, Stephen and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2002. Sustainable development strategies: a resource book. OECD Publishing. Gorgens-Albino, Marelize, Gorgens, Marelize and Kusek, Jody Zall. 2010. Making Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Work: A Capacity Development Toolkit. World Bank Publications. Gosling, Louisa and Edwards, Mike. 2003. Toolkits: a practical guide to planning, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment. Save the Children UK. Issel, L. Michele. 2009. Health program planning and evaluation: a practical and systematic approach for community health. Jones and Bartlett Learning. Longest, Beaufort B. 2004. Managing health programs and projects. John Wiley and Sons. MEND. 2011. MEND: For a Fitter, Healthier and Happier life. Retrieved on March 18, 2012: http://www.mendprogramme.org/ Murray, Christopher J. L., and Evans, David B. 2003. Health systems performance assessment: debates, methods, and empiricism. World Health Organization. Pope, Catherine and Mays, Nicholas. 2006. Qualitative research in health care. John Wiley and Sons. Pencheon, David, and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (Great Britain). 2008. The good indicators guide: understanding how to use and choose indicators. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. Read More