Effective Sexual Health Interventions: Issues in Experimental Evaluation

by Judith Stephenson, John Imrie, Chris Bonnell

Overview

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 behavioral and social research.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198508496
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/03/2003
Series:	Oxford Medical Publications
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Royal Free and University College Medical School, London

Social Sciences Research Unit, Institute of Education University of London, London

Table of Contents

1. To experiment or not?, Chris Bonell, Rebecca Bennett and Ann Oakley2. Sexual health interventions are unsuitable for experimental evaluation, Susan Kippax3. The role of randomized controlled trials in evaluating sexual health interventions, David A. Ross and Daniel Wight4. Methodological issues in the experimental evaluation of sexual health interventions, Stephen Sutton5. Stages in the development and evaluation of complex interventions, Irwin Nazareth6. Choice of experimental design, Sheila Bird7. Cluster randomized trials of sexual health interventions, Richard Hayes8. Biological, behavioural and psychosocial outcome measures, Frances M. Cowan and Mary Plummer9. Developing and validating behavioural outcome measures, Rochelle N. Shain, Sondra Perdue, Jeanna M. Piper, Alan E.C. Holden and Jane Champion10. Unpacking the 'black box': the importance of process data to explain outcomes, Daniel Wright and Angela Obasi11. What happens after a trial is completed?, Heiner Grosskurth and Lilani Kumaranayake12. The limits of generalisability: community-based sexual health interventions with gay men, Graham Hart and Jonathan Elford13. The value of systematic reviews of the effectiveness of sexual health interventions, Jonathan Shepherd and Angela Harden14. Challenges for future sexual health intervention trials, Judith Stephenson

Editorial Reviews

"This book demonstrates the wealth of methodological expertise within the sexual health field. ..It should now become required reading for those planning or seeking funding for complex sexual health interventions." -International Journal of Epidemiology

From the Publisher