1. A Case Study Approach to Understanding the Value Added of the PRC Healthy Aging Thematic Research Network Doryn Davis Chervin, DrPH Nicola Dawkins, PhD, MPH Gayle-Marie Holmes Payne, MS Healthy Aging Network Evaluation Writing Group AEA Annual Conference November 3, 2006

2. Today’s Presentation Describe the PRC Healthy Aging Network Present Case Study Approach Share Some Study Findings

3. Today’s Presentation Describe the PRC Healthy Aging Network Present Case Study Approach Share Some Study Findings

4. CDC’s Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Program Prevention Research Centers Program: 33 academic-community partnerships to develop prevention research for the most demanding community-level health challenges PRCs’ foci represent a wide variety of public health concerns and communities

5. Healthy Aging Network Healthy Aging Network: A consortium of 9 PRCs focused on improving the health of older Americans through prevention research, translation, and dissemination of findings Combines diverse perspectives of network members –Many are luminaries in the field of aging studies Establishes new national linkages –To expand prevention research for older adults and their communities Includes external partners such as Administration on Aging, National Council on Aging, Alzheimer’s Association

6. Healthy Aging Network: Participating PRCs University of Washington at Seattle: Health Promotion Research Center (coordinating center) Texas A&M University System Health Science Center: Center for Community Health Development University of Colorado: Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center University of California at Berkley: Center for Family and Community Health University of Illinois at Chicago: Illinois Prevention Research Center University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention University of Pittsburgh: Center for Healthy Aging (contracted by University of Washington) University of South Carolina: USC Prevention Research Center West Virginia University: Centers for Public Health Research and Training

7. Exploring Thematic Research Network Model HAN is one of four current thematic research networks supported by the PRC Program Other PRCs have considered moving in this direction PRC Program office wanted to better understand the value added by having a group of PRCs focus on a single prevention research theme ORC Macro evaluation team worked closely with PRC Program office and HAN evaluation group to establish evaluation questions and select study design

8. Today’s Presentation Describe the PRC Healthy Aging Network Present Case Study Approach Share Some Study Findings

9. Evaluation Questions What are the accomplishments of the HAN to date? What is the value added of the thematic research networks (as embodied by the HAN)? What other capacities or untapped potential does the HAN have that are not currently being implemented or taken advantage of?

10. Study Design Definition: “… A case study is an examination of a specific phenomenon such as a program, an event, a person, a process, an institution, or social group. The bounded system, or case, might be selected because it is an instance of some concern, issue, or hypothesis.” (Merriam, 1988)

11. Descriptive Case Study To identify the meaningful characteristics of the intra-network processes involved in the construction and operation of the HAN To explain how the HAN functions and why it is a value-added enterprise

12. Methodology Systematic review of archival documents Key informant interviews

13. Methodology: Document Review Document Review: Primarily addressing what the HAN has accomplished to date –Strategic planning documents –Evaluation/summary data –Progress reports –Applications of centers –Capacity grid of member centers Data abstracted into a template, reviewed and analyzed

14. Methodology: Key Informant Interviews Key Informant Interviews: Primarily addressing untapped capacities and value added –HAN researchers, members of HAN evaluation workgroup (n = 8) –External partners (n = 6) –Members of HAN leadership (n = 2) –CDC staff from PRC Program office and Healthy Aging Program (n = 2) Data abstracted into a template, reviewed and analyzed for key themes, concordance or discordance across groups

15. Combined Data Analysis and Reporting Data from document review and interviews triangulated to establish themes and patterns across methods Draft summary of report shared with HAN evaluation group to validate accuracy

16. Today’s Presentation Describe the PRC Healthy Aging Network Present Case Study Approach Share Some Study Findings

17. Findings Joining the HAN –Researchers from across universities, not just with PRC –SIP (Special Interest Project) funding presented formal mechanism to bring together –Commitment to Healthy Aging Research Member relations –Extremely fond working relationships –Cited as significant reason for maintaining participation Funding and infrastructure –Coordination of lead center critical to network functioning –Outputs outweigh monetary inputs; need for greater support not to take from other activities

18. Findings Accomplishments –HAN projects –Grants and funding –HAN products –HAN partners/partnerships –Conferences/workshops/presentations –HAN publications –Abstracts and posters Value added

19. Findings: Value Added Senior researchers in aging coming together to create and contribute to a national prevention research agenda in healthy aging Able to respond agilely to Congressional earmarks such as a brain health agenda Important for identifying and contributing to an emerging agenda, linking expertise across the country CDC support a catalyzing influence for coming together, but not sole attributional influence

20. Findings: Value Added Capacity to do multi-site research Ability to bring together a critical mass of investigators that a single university could rarely convene Independence from the government to elaborate an agenda in public health Enhance the careers of others (e.g., junior faculty) who work in the healthy aging arena

21. Limitations Only interviewed HAN members in the Evaluation Workgroup and not in other workgroups (although there is overlap in membership) Number of respondents was determined by time and resources and does not represent a representative sample Evaluation questions primarily focused on assets, so sought also to capture untapped capacities

22. Possible Uses of Case Study Enables HAN to assess accomplishments and consider strategies for future work Provides some insight regarding value added of thematic research network model Provides recognition of value added to key audiences: –CDC leadership –Congressional interests in aging –Other agencies interested in aging –Others interested in developing thematic networks

23. Thank you for your attention. Contact Information: ORC Macro Nicola Dawkins 3 Corporate Square Suite 370 Atlanta, GA 30329 Ph: 404.321.3211 Fax: 404.321.3688 Nicola.U.Dawkins@orcmacro.com Doryn.D.Chervin@orcmacro.com