Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation: A Comprehensive Review

This assignment examines program planning and evaluation within the context of public health, focusing on the impact of U.S. Public Health Service initiatives and the role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in healthcare. It explores how CAM practices, such as acupuncture, yoga, and stress management, are utilized to promote health and prevent chronic diseases among adults, with an emphasis on workplace applications. The assignment also addresses national health priorities, including the epidemic of smoking, poor dietary habits, suicide, substance abuse and depression among youth. The role of schools and institutions in educating youth about CAM practices and healthy habits is also discussed. The author expresses a personal opinion on CAM, highlighting its potential in advancing healthcare and treating incurable diseases. The assignment concludes with references to relevant research on the subject.

Running head: PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Name of Student
Name of University
Author’s Note

1PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Question 1
The results of the initiatives taken by the U.S. Public Health Service to improve and
impart quality healthcare treatment, have been observed clearly from the increase in number of
healthy adults, who have been able to fight diseases and illness such as diabetes and other
chronic disorders with the help of regulations and healthcare organizations
(Govinfo.library.unt.edu., 2019). The main role of CAM (Complementary and Alternative
Medicine) is to utilize every possible techniques and approaches that will assist in the promotion
of effective and efficient health (Jonas et al., 2013). The different CAM practices such as
acupuncture, biofeedback, yoga, massage, tai chi, nutritional and stress management programs,
have proved to be of useful in achieving their goal of effective nation’s health. The CAM
practices also have been proved to be of great help in providing healthcare especially to adults
(Cramer et al., 2016). As the adults represent the nation’s majority of population, the different
working organizations and agencies both public and private, have administered the CAM
practices and achieved in enhancing the wellness, promoting the health of nation and prevention
of chronic diseases. The concepts of arranging a campaign in a working organization to aware
adults about the importance of nutrition and stress management are considered beneficial. The
role of CAM practices is highly appraised in the workplace and the organizations are giving out
incentives to motivate and encourage adults to apply those practices.
Question 2
The different practices of CAM have helped in achieving the enhancement of healthy
habits and attitudes, to prevent unfavorable behaviors. However, national priority is given to the

2PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
epidemic of smoking, poor dietary habits, suicide, homicide, substance abuse and depression, in
the group of youths of the nation. With the use and implementation of CAM practices along with
the national effort, the dismal health statistics of the nation can be changed. Involvement of
every individual of the nation in a campaign to aware the youth about health related issues and
enhance the interests of youth. By educating the youths about how adversely their behavior and
interests affect environment and their life (Kemper, Gardiner & Birdee, 2013). Moreover,
educating them to determine healthy habits, this will help them to cope up with their stress.
Schools and institutions play a vital role in imparting the knowledge of the CAM’s practices by
teaching about such healthy policies by embracing healthy diet, increased physical activity and
preventing addiction and use of unhealthy substances (Cummings, Wen & Druss, 2013).

3PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Personal Opinion
Being a heterogeneous group of health care and medical system CAM is a new concept
and has its pros and cons. I believe that concept of alternative medicines are useful only if the
medicine is beneficial without any side effects. The use of natural medicine are more supported
and practiced, because of lack of knowledge about the advancing technology and its products. I
think CAM will assist us in unlocking the new and advanced world of effective medicines and
efficient health care treatment, leading us to cure the incurable diseases like cancer, hepatitis B
and many more.

4PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
References
Cramer, H., Hall, H., Leach, M., Frawley, J., Zhang, Y., Leung, B., ... & Lauche, R. (2016).
Prevalence, patterns, and predictors of meditation use among US adults: A nationally
representative survey. Scientific reports, 6, 36760.
Cummings, J. R., Wen, H., & Druss, B. G. (2013). Improving access to mental health services
for youth in the United States. Jama, 309(6), 553-554.
Govinfo.library.unt.edu. (2019). [online] Available at:
http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/whccamp/pdfs/fr2002_document.pdf [Accessed 26 Jul.
2019].
Jonas, W. B., Eisenberg, D., Hufford, D., & Crawford, C. (2013). The evolution of
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the USA over the last 20 years.
Complementary Medicine Research, 20(1), 65-72.
Kemper, K. J., Gardiner, P., & Birdee, G. S. (2013). Use of complementary and alternative
medical therapies among youth with mental health concerns. Academic pediatrics, 13(6),
540-545.