Effects of Participation and Collaboration on Perceived
Effectiveness of Core Public Health Functions
Objectives. We measured the perceived effectiveness of core public health
services at the community level, and we assessed whether certain systemfactors
were associated with perceived effectiveness.
Methods.We used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Local Public
Health Systems, conducted in 1998 and 2006, to examine the effects of the
contributions of health departments and the participation of other agencies to
core functions on the perceived effectiveness of community delivery of core
assessment, policy development, and assurance functions.
Results. Perceived effectiveness increased over time for all 3 core function
areas (range = 41%–53% in 2006). Multivariable results showed that local health
department contribution to effort was positively associated with perceived
effectiveness of public health core functions. The significance of participation
of individual types of agencies or organizations varied by core function areas,
except for local government agencies and hospitals, which were significantly
positively associated with all 3 core function areas.
Conclusions. We furthered our understanding of the significance of the
contributions and participations of local health departments and of other
individual agencies or organizations in the perceived effectiveness of delivery
of core functions.