Please delete my name from your list. Matthew F.S. Yip > > Some thoughts in response to Jiri's concerns about evidence-based health > promotion... > I think that it is of prime importance that the goals and objectives o f > the program be clearly identified and that the evaluation strategies be > carefully designed to assess the achievement of these. Too often > investigators just go on a fishing expedition and focus their report > around any signficant findings they can come up with, even though these > may have any relationship to the goals and objectives. > Working in the area of weight concerns, my pet peeves include > reports that fail to consider long term effects and those that ignor > their dropouts. > If we are going to offer programs to meet diverse needs, we are > probably stuck with reliance on small convenience samples and cas > studies. These can be useful if one is stringent in generalizing, > limiting this to groups/individuals with similar characteristics. It is > also essential that observations be carefully and consistently made. > Once again, we must insist that the outcomes for all who started the > program be reported. Often it is only this kind of study that can > provide the long term data that is needed. > I'll be interested in seeing other comments on evidence-based > promotions. Ellen > > Ellen S. Parham, PhD, Rd > Coordinator, Dietetics, Nutrition, and Food Systems > Department of Human and Family Resources > Northern Illinois University > DeKalb, Illinois 60115-2854 > 815-753-6333 FAX 815-753-1321 [log in to unmask] >