Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2935-6292

Date Available

4-24-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Graduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

College

Public Health

Department/School/Program

Public Health

Faculty

Keely Rees

Committee Member

Elizabeth Riley

Faculty

Min-Woong Sohn

Abstract

Public health revolves around 3 core functions: assessment, policy development, and assurance.1 For public health initiatives to have long-term success, we must determine if the intended effects of those programs are met in the beginning stages of program development and implementation; thus, program evaluation relates to the core function of assessment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a framework to facilitate this process and enable subsequent informed decisions on how to improve public health programs, which relates to policy development.2 The CDC framework is comprised of 6 interconnected steps and 4 groups of standards; together, these components identify the program’s context, effectiveness within that context, and recommendations for program improvement.2 The implementation of program changes relates to the core function of assurance. This report will focus on the first 2 core functions of public health (assessment and policy development) by utilizing the CDC program evaluation framework to evaluate and provide recommendations for changes of a new program introduced by the Bourbon County Health Department (BCHD) to increase physical activity of the residents it serves.3

Physical inactivity has demonstrated numerous deleterious health outcomes (e.g., obesity, heart disease, diabetes, depression, etc.), making it an important public health measure given that it can have a plethora of downstream secondary effects.3 Physical inactivity rates in Kentucky (KY) are persistently higher than the national U.S. average, 25% vs. 23%, respectively.4 Furthermore, physical inactivity rates in Bourbon County, KY, surpass the average rate for KY at 28 – 30%.3,4 Importantly, access to exercise opportunities is substantially lower in Bourbon County and KY vs. the U.S. (52 – 58%, 70%, 84%, respectively).3,4 Thus, working to increase access and opportunities to exercise in Bourbon County is a promising method to decrease physical inactivity in this region.

Funding Information

none

Download

Share

COinS