The growing importance of the evidence-based movement has made experimental evaluation a key issue among researchers, practitioners, commissioners and policy makers.
However, experimental evaluation remains controversial in the sexual health field.
This partly reflects the diversity of groups involved in this area and their different views on the most appropriate research methods. This book provides an analysis of the methodological and practical issues involved in evaluating sexual health interventions.
The book will appeal to trial enthusiasts through discussion of specific issues in trial design, and also to those with a sceptical interest in the potential of experimentation and its appropriateness or feasibility.
It is concerned with methodology rather than the substantive findings of research, and considers the requirements of research in both developed and developing countries.
The focus of the book is on sexual health interventions, although many of the issues are equally applicable to other areas of behavioural and social research
Edited by:
Judith M. Stephenson ( Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Royal Free and University College Medical School London),
John Imrie (,
Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases,
Royal Free and University College Medical School,
London),
Chris Bonell (,
Social Sciences Research Unit,
Institute of Education,
University of London)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 241mm,
Width: 162mm,
Spine: 19mm
Weight: 478g
ISBN: 9780198508496
ISBN 10: 0198508492
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 01 March 2003
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Section 1 - To experiment or not? 1: Chris Bonnell, Rebecca Bennett & Ann Oakley: Sexual health interventions should be subject to experimental evaluation 2: Susan Kippax: Sexual health interventions are unsuitable for experimental evaluation 3: David A. Ross & Daniel Wight: The role of randomized controlled trials in assessing sexual health interventions Section 2 - Methodological issues in the experimental evaluation of sexual health interventions 4: Stephen Sutton: Using theories of behaviour change to develop and evaluate sexual health interventions 5: Irwin Nazareth: Stages in the development and evaluation of complex interventions 6: Sheila Bird: Choice of experimental design 7: Richard Hayes: Cluster randomized trials of sexual health interventions 8: Frances M. Cowan & Mary Plummer: Biological, behavioural and psychosocial outcome measures 9: Rochelle N. Shain, Sondra Perdue, Jeanna M. Piper, Alan E.C. Holden & Jane Champion: Developing and validating complex behavioural outcome measures 10: Daniel Wight & Angela Obasi: Unpacking the 'black box': the importance of process data to explain outcomes Section 3 - What happens after a trial is completed? 11: Heiner Grosskurth & Lilani Kumaranayake: Generalizability of trials and implementation of research into practice 12: Graham Hart & Jonathan Elford: The limits of generalizability: community-based sexual health interventions among gay men 13: Jonathan Shepherd & Angela Harden: The value of systematic reviews of the effectiveness of sexual health interventions 14: Judith Stephenson: Challenges for future sexual health intervention trials
Reviews for Effective Sexual Health Interventions: Issues in Experimental Evaluation
A major strength of this book is its international scope ... It should now become required reading for those planning or seeking funding for complex sexual health interventions. International Journal of Epidemiology, 33 ... specifically of interest to those researching sexual health interventions from the social science perspective... many of the arguments and examples used are interesting, relevant and wide-ranging... Globally sexual health is poorly resourced and evaluation is essential for the future to maximise cost-effectiveness and to prevent useless or harmful interventions continuing to be deployed. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
