Program evaluation as health services research.

Evaluation of health program is necessary for more rational allocation of scarce resources. Steps in evaluation include: 1)Specification of the program goals, 2) Description of the program, 3) Definition and measurement of outcome, 4) Assessment of intervening variables, 5) Analysis of data, and 6) Implementation of findings. Examples from impirical evaluation studies are presented to illustrate one practical application of these steps. While the random controlled trial is a most powerful tool, it is very difficult to apply in complex human services programs. In the future, more use of multivariate matching of groups to approximate a quasi experimental situation will be needed. Education of health professionals in methods of evaluation is necessary to promote planned improvement in health services.