Open AccessDO HEALTH BOOKLETS ADD ANYTHING TO PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE? AN EVALUATION STUDY
Author(s) -
Cullen James S.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
community health studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 0314-9021
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.1984.tb00445.x
Subject(s) - set (abstract data type) , outcome (game theory) , incentive , medical education , psychology , control (management) , child health , health professionals , medicine , nursing , family medicine , health care , mathematics , management , mathematical economics , computer science , microeconomics , economics , programming language , economic growth
An outcome evaluation was undertaken of a booklet used as a supplement to nurses' guidance to mothers on the introduction of solids to infants. The study was based on a classical before and after design, including a control group. Measures were taken of knowledge, practice and preferred learning mode. Gains in knowledge and practice were significantly greater for the experimental group. Reductions in knowledge scores, where they were expected to increase, are discussed and a set of conditions thought to govern the effectiveness of health messages is offered. Despite prolonged use of pamphlets, posters, leaflets and booklets in public education few outcome evaluations of such educational aids have been published. The face validity of these aids is a powerful incentive for their continued use; furthermore, outcome evaluations are usually complex and expensive. In this study a booklet called A Solid Start (dealing with the introduction of solid foods to imports) was chosen because —(a) the booklet was typical in style of many publications; (b) the topic of infant feeding ensured a ready supply of experimental subjects; (c) it was prepared in response to expressed needs (16 experienced nurses were asked what booklets mothers requested). (d) it was well developed, competently written and subjected to process evaluations before reaching its final stage; (e) it was a new booklet, not distributed previously; (f) it dealt with a brief time period in child development.