NLM logo

National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR)

HSRProj (Health Services Research Projects in Progress)

Information about ongoing health services research and public health projects


Treatment Improvement Protocols field evaluation.
(Archived Project)
Investigator (PI):
Performing Organization (PO): (Current): JSB International
Supporting Agency (SA): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Initial Year: 1997
Final Year: 2001
Record Source/Award ID: HSR/SAM97-101
Award Type: Contract
Abstract: Currently, twenty-three Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs) have been distributed to the public. The purpose of TIPs is to transfer state-of-the-art protocols and guidelines for the treatment of alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse from acknowledged clinical, evaluation, and administrative experts to the nation's AOD treatment field. Institution of a field evaluation is needed to: (1) assess the extent to which target audiences are aware of, read, and implement TIPs; (2) learn ways to strengthen the development, formatting, marketing, dissemination, use and evaluation of TIPs to ensure effective use of future federal resources devoted to TIPs. The overall objective of the proposed evaluation is to learn the impact of TIPs on the substance abuse treatment field. The study will examine methods of dissemination used by CSAT, the success of those methods in reaching the target audiences, users' perceptions of the value of TIPs, decisions to implement TIPs, and the successes, correlates, and barriers associated with implementation. Three types of studies are required for the evaluation: (1) a retrospective study of recipients of existing TIPs will examine awareness of and exposure to TIPs, satisfaction with TIPs, suggestions for improvement, and experiences with implementation of TIPs guidelines; (2) a prospective study involving controlled dissemination of TIPs pending publication will examine implementation issues; and (3) a study focusing on use of TIPS in Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)-funded Addiction Technology Transfer Centers. The contractor will examine potential sources of information about the perceptions and uses of TIPs by the target audiences and will recommend specific methods for answering evaluation questions.
MeSH Terms:
  • Communication Barriers
  • Diffusion of Innovation
  • Humans
  • * Information Services
  • Marketing of Health Services
  • Program Evaluation
  • Public Opinion
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care
  • Substance-Related Disorders /*therapy
  • United States
Keywords:
  • research support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Country: United States
State: Maryland
Zip Code: 20910
UI: 98400030
Project Status: Archived