What does “impact” refer to in the context of public health program evaluations?

In the context of public health program evaluations, "impact" specifically refers to the long-term changes resulting from a program. This encompasses the broader effects that a program has on health outcomes and quality of life over time, beyond the immediate results.

When evaluating a public health initiative, understanding its impact means looking at how it influences behaviors, health systems, population health, and community conditions well after the program has been implemented. This might include reductions in disease incidence, improvements in health indicators, or enhanced social determinants of health as a result of the program's interventions.

Immediate outcomes, financial metrics, or participant counts are important aspects of program assessment but do not encapsulate the essence of "impact." Immediate outcomes represent short-term effects, while financial savings pertain to cost-effectiveness rather than health results. The number of participants provides insight into program reach but does not reflect the deeper potential changes in the community’s health or well-being resulting from the program.