Soccer Smoking & Prevention

Athlete Recipes

Soccer Recipes

are the program's strengths, weak-Surveys (YRBS). Such comparisons nesses, and areas for improvement? allow you to set benchmarks for Outcome evaluations (conducted progress. once a program is mature enough to produce outcomes) assess what . Step 4. Gather credible evi­effects the program has produced dence. Choose what outcomes you and whether the program has will measure and which indicators you achieved the desired outcomes: will use to measure these outcomes -Short-term outcomes describe the (participation rates, attitudes, behav­immediate effects of your program. iors, community norms, policies, They might include children's health status). Decide what data increased awareness of the dangers sources you will use. Consider of using tobacco or changes in their whether you will develop your own attitudes about tobacco use. surveillance system to collect the data -Intermediate outcomes describe you need or whether you can use or changes that occur after your pro-modify existing data systems, such as gram has had a chance to affect the YTS or YRBS. Factors that will behaviors, norms, or policies. They affect the credibility of your evidence might include changes in children's include the quality and quantity of behaviors, social norms, or the sur-data you collect, the collection rounding environment. method you use, and when and how -Long-term outcomes take years to often the data are collected. Also con-achieve. They might include reduc-sider these issues: How will the infor­tions in tobacco-related illnesses and mation be collected (through personal deaths. interviews, over the phone, by mail)? How will the data be computerized? Different evaluation designs call for dif-Who will collect the data? Will these ferent methods-for instance, focus people be trained? groups, surveys, interviews, or observa­tions of participants. When you are The following questions are especial-considering which design is best suited ly important: How will you ensure for your needs, consider how you can the privacy and confidentiality of compare your data with state or nation-participants? Will you need to get al data. One option would be to com-approval from an institutional review pare multiple sources-for instance, board (IRB) before collecting the findings from the Youth Tobacco data? What informed consent proce-Surveys (YTS) and Youth Risk Behavior dures will you use?

SMAR T Objec tiv es A well-written and clearly defined objective is SMART: Specific: It identifies a specific event or action that will take place. Measurable: It quantifies the amount of change to be achieved. Achievable and Ambitious: It is realistic given available resources and plans for implementation, yet challenging enough to accelerate program efforts. Relevant: It is logical and relates to the program's goal. Time-bound: It specifies a time by which the objective will be achieved. xxvi The Tobacco-Free Sports Playbook . Step 5. Justify conclusions. The next step is to analyze and interpret the information. If you are using data from another system such as the YTS or YRBS, the data have already been analyzed and checked. If not, your data must be entered, reviewed for errors, tabulated to provide a number or percentage for each indicator, and analyzed by variables of interest (by sex or age, for example). Next, use statistical tests to show differences between comparison and intervention groups, between geographic areas, or within a target population before and after an intervention. Once the data have been analyzed, they need to be placed in an easy-to-read format such as a map, graph, or table. The last step is to interpret the findings. When interpreting the findings, consider the purpose of your program, what the audience wants and needs to know, and whether there are any problems with the data. . Step 6. Ensure that evaluation findings are used, and share lessons learned. Write a report that describes your findings and includes recommendations for action. Keep the report as short as possible, and write it in a way that's easy to understand. Don't use tech­nical jargon. Do use examples, graphics, and stories. Be sure to have your report reviewed and checked for accuracy before releas­ing it to the public. Share the lessons you have learned with key people at health agencies, sports organiza­