Table 1.
Steps in the Swift Worksite Assessment and Translation (SWAT) Project Process to Assess Worksite Health Promotion Programs and Required Level of Expertise to Evaluate Steps, 2005
| Phase | Required Evaluator Levela |
|---|---|
| Phase 1. Site Identification and Selection | |
| 1. Potential worksites are identified through Internet searches, nominations from health promotion experts, award programs, and word of mouth. | Levels 1, 2, and 3 |
| 2. Existing documents from sources such as corporate Web sites are reviewed to assess eligibility for SWAT assessment. | Levels 1 and 2 |
| 3. Invitation letter sent from CDC to worksite inviting participation in a SWAT assessment and requesting additional information about the health promotion program. | Level 1 |
| 4. For those worksites that accept the invitation, documents provided by the worksite are reviewed and summarized using a template. Special note is made of strategies specifically intended to address obesity as well as the in-house data collection and evaluation that the site undertakes. | Level 1 |
| 5. To fill in gaps in the summary template (step 4, above), a brief telephone interview is conducted with health promotion staff. | Level 1 |
| 6. SWAT project team reviews program information in summary template. | Level 2 |
| 7. Using the criteria shown in Table 3, the team decides whether to conduct a site visit. | Levels 2 and 3 |
| Phase 2. Site Visit | |
| 8. One-day site visit divided as 2 half-day observations is conducted by a team of 2 to 3 evaluators. Written protocols guide interviews with senior managers and health promotion program leaders and staff. A written observational environmental checklist is completed to note worksite conditions such as fitness facilities, cafeteria and vending, signage, and stairwells. An additional written environmental observational checklist provides context on the surrounding community, including distance to restaurants and availability of places for physical activity. | Level 1 |
| 9. Comprehensive site-visit report is written following a prescribed template. | Level 1 |
| Phase 3. Evaluation of Health Promotion Practices | |
| 10. SWAT project team members and connoisseurs review site-visit reports to identify innovative and promising practices. Written assessment form is used to guide assessors' consideration of SWAT criteria regarding what constitutes a "promising practice." These experts justify their selection of promising practices. | Levels 2 and 3 |
| Phase 4. Evaluation Capacity Building | |
| 11. SWAT project team members develop an interpretive assessment based on health promotion practice criteria. Written interpretive assessment and final site-visit report are provided to sites. | Level 3 |
| 12. One-hour telephone consultation provided to sites to discuss interpretive assessment and provide technical assistance as desired. | Levels 2 and 3 |
| Phase 5. Translation and Dissemination | |
| 13. Innovative and promising practices are shared with CDC researchers and managers to inform planning for future investments in research studies. | Levels 2 and 3 |
| 14. Innovative worksite strategies are disseminated to the business community through ongoing telephone conferences with SWAT alumnae sites, CDC networks, and other CDC-business partnerships. | Level 2 |
| 15. Communication materials, including online video of health promotion practices, are used to disseminate information to business audience at large. | Level 2 |
a
Level 1, skills in interviewing and observation using written protocols and general knowledge of evaluation principles and practice. Level 2, formal training and experience in conducting evaluation and designing or implementing worksite health promotion programs. Level 3, leadership of evaluation studies in worksite health promotion and extensive knowledge of evaluation, evidenced by publication of journal articles, book chapters, or texts.