Empowerment evaluation applied to public health practice

This paper describes the details of a strategy developed to evaluate intervention outcomes of a number of community-based programmes. The rationale for the development of the strategy and its reception into practice is also described. This paper contributes to the debate about qualities and characteristics of appropriate evidence for health promotion by detailing the package of tools developed. These drew on health impact assessment, theories of change and participatory appraisal. In particular, the impact of context on evaluation is highlighted. Although this work is focused on community health promotion officers in the UK, the issues are relevant to a wide range of workers such as public health nurses and community development workers internationally. Alongside the description of the evaluation process is an exploration of power and empowerment of stakeholders in public health services' planning and evaluation. Power, in terms of that afforded by tools and language, held by the different stakeholders is one of the key determinants shaping a service. This makes for a rather ambitious and complex paper; however, the authors consider it is a timely and worthy challenge to address.