Development and Evaluation of Complex Public Health Interventions

Development and Evaluation of Complex Public Health Interventions course

Tutors: Professor Laurence Moore, Professor Rona Campbell, Dr Simon Murphy, Dr Suzanne Audrey and other DECIPHer staff

Duration: Three days

Dates/times: 9th-11th May 2012. 10am - 4pm

Location: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS. Map and directions

Course fee: £200 per day (and a reduced rate of £100 per day for UKCRC Public Health Research Centres of Excellence staff and students).

There is no fee for:
DECIPHer funded staff and students;
DECIPHer adopted staff and students

Course aims and objectives

Theory and evidence indicate that the effectiveness of interventions to improve health behaviours and the determinants of health is greatest when multilevel, socio-ecological or systems perspectives are used in their development, evaluation and/or implementation. The effectiveness of simple monofactorial interventions can be ameliorated or enhanced through mediators and/or moderators associated with individual or contextual factors; complex interventions are generally explicitly designed to act at multiple levels; translational science and systems perspectives highlight the importance of implementation and context. The inherent complexity of such interventions and/or our understanding of what works, for whom and under what circumstances, is a challenge for orthodox research and evaluation methods. The main aim of this course is to provide an introduction to multilevel and systems perspectives, most notably the socio-ecological model of health, and to understand how this framework can be used to inform the design of multilevel complex interventions. There is a particular focus on the methodological tools required to develop, evaluate and implement such interventions. The breadth of material covered in the course means that it is more of an introductory why? and what? rather than a detailed methodological how?, thus making it an accessible introduction to key principles, targeted at public health and health services researchers who are intending or are already engaged in the development and evaluation of complex interventions.

Participants will gain knowledge of

Limitations of monofactorial interventions
Theory and rationale underpinning the socio-ecological model
Evidence supporting the effectiveness of multilevel complex interventions
An understanding of the importance of complexity, systems, context
Transdisciplinary science
Methods to develop and evaluate complex interventions
Natural experiments, policy trials
Knowledge exchange and translation

Pre-requisites

No pre-requisites. The course content and delivery will assume some basic knowledge of health improvement principles, behaviour change theory and evaluation design.

Making a booking

To book a place on the course please complete the online booking form.

When we receive the booking form, we will confirm your provisional place on the course and, where applicable, request payment. Booking cannot be finalised until payment is received. If we have not received payment by ONE MONTH after your booking or ONE MONTH before the course start date, we may offer your place to another person on the course waiting list.

On receipt of payment, we will send an email confirming your place on the course. Course details, including directions and a provisional course timetable will be sent to you approximately one month before the course start date.

Cancellations and refunds

If you cancel less than TWO WEEKS before the course, we are unable to offer a refund. In the unlikely event that the short course has to be cancelled, our liability is limited to refund of course fees only.

Applicants eligible for free places

In fairness to others, please do not book on the course unless you are sure that you will attend it. There is a PENALTY FEE of £20 per day if you book on the course and do not attend the full course. Please let us know 2 WEEKS before the course start date if you wish to cancel in order to avoid the penalty fee.