Program Evaluation Part II A WEB-BASED PROGRAM MODEL

Needs Assessment for a Smoking Cessation Program

Needs Assessment

Program planning and evaluation must be preceded and interrelate with assessment strategies (Marrs & Helge, 2014). This succession will meet the increasing demand for eventual accountability in the program. Needs assessment may also be aptly used in creating program standards both as part of formative evaluation and summative evaluation. The process of needs assessment is guided by the appropriate principles of organization development. These principles involve all organizational levels. They also align individual and organizational needs and goals (Marrs & Helge).

The assessment of needs must logically precede program development. Generally, available information in the preceding year is sufficient for use as baseline and in setting up program goals and objectives in the planning stage (CDCP, 2014). It will also be valuable in measuring and assessing program goals in the evaluation stage. Measurement of accomplishment may be undertaken every 6 to 12 months after start of the program. The timing of measurements should be suited to the demands of the program (CDCP).

Smoking Risks and the Rationale for a Cessation Program

This is still considered the top cause of preventable illness and death in America (CDC, 2014). It can lead to many cancers, heart diseases, stroke, pregnancy complications and, most critically, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. COPD alone takes 443,000 deaths a year in America. Mere cessation of smoking will improve health by reducing the chances of developing these deadly illnesses associated with smoking. Terminating the habit also adversely affects work productivity, increases absenteeism or the use of disability or sickness leave, and raises healthcare costs in the workplace. Most recent statistics says that approximately $96.8 billion a year goes up in smoke through loss of productivity because of illnesses and early death. Male smokers get sick four times more a year than non-smoking...

Adult American men spend $15,800 and women, $17,500 for treatments than non-smokers (CDC).
The Role of Needs Assessment in this WHO Program

The Smoking Cessation Program suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2012) is meant to assist organization stakeholders adopt their own program. Assessing needs before designing and developing a program will with certainty identify and prioritize goals, mechanics and actions for effective implementation. Stakeholders can create the precise strategies in attacking smoking issues. At the same time, these strategies will manage inequalities among smokers and improve their overall well-being (WHO).

The involvement of stakeholders during the assessment of needs is paramount (WHO, 2012). Their inputs will be very valuable as innovations in the program. They can help discover and simplify complicated views and routine habits within the organizations, which account for the issues. Their analysis of these issues will be without doubt knowledgeable and provide needed insight. The very aim of the program is to promptly inform stakeholders and involve them in managing the issues. They are significant key players in the program process itself (WHO).

Needs assessment is indispensable in determining the resources for the program and its timetable (WHO, 2012). Resources may be limited or unavailable. Designing a better program requires an evaluation of existing or past smoking cessation programs, which worked, and adapting one from these (WHO).

Recommended Evaluation Model

This is a web-based smoking cessation program, which can be very useful and effective to patients or smokers anywhere in the world (Huey et al., 1998). The accessibility to this suggested program hinges on the global nature of the internet and its increasing popularity among countries, especially smokers. Its advantages include increased home accessibility and direct, personal interaction through the program's conferencing feature. This model can also rapidly update or change…