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Journal article
The utility of the environmental scan for public health practice: Lessons from an urban program to increase cancer screening
Journal of the National Medical Association, Vol.97, pp.527-534
97
2005
PMCID: PMC2568702
PMID: 15868772
Web of Science ID: WOS:000203403200034
Abstract
The environmental scan is a tool that can be utilized to collect data to design health programs uniquely tailored to the needs of communities. However, it remains relatively undefined, unevaluated and underutilized in the field of public health. While individual studies indicate the utility of the environmental scan for public health, it is difficult to find a theoretical framework or guidelines on how to design, implement or evaluate the process within public health practice. The purpose of this study was to elicit lessons learned to maximize the utility of the environmental scan as a tool for public health. This process occurred through the development and implementation of an environmental scan as part of the needs assessment phase of a project to increase cancer screening among African Americans in Baltimore, MD.
Data collection methods for the environmental scan included a review of community stakeholders, cancer incidence and community assets and liabilities in target communities, focus group sessions and key informant interviews with service providers. The environmental scan was conducted in 2003 and allowed for rapid acquisition and use of information about events, trends and relationships in the neighborhoods targeted for our project and enabled researchers to move forward with implementing the cancer-screening project. The researchers conclude that the environmental scan has considerable potential to be a creative, responsive, cost-effective and mobilizing tool for public health practice. However, further application and critical review are necessary to make it a more effective public health tool and an established research methodology.
Details
- Title
- The utility of the environmental scan for public health practice
- Publication Details
- Journal of the National Medical Association, Vol.97, pp.527-534
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- National Medical Association; Washington, DC
- Series
- 97
- Format
- pdf
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries by the author to digitize and/or display this information for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires the permission of the copyright holder.
- Identifiers
- WOS:000203403200034; 99380090321806600
- Academic Unit
- Public Health
- Language
- English