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Chapter Six: Interventions, Effects, Outcomes, Benefits, and Costs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2020

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Abstract

Interventions are actions (processes) by humans to prevent, attenuate, create, or augment change(s). Resources (human, material) are consumed in the production of change. In disaster work, interventions are designed to: (1) affect the probability that damage will occur from an event; or (2) effect recovery. The definitions and implications of the terms: effects, outcomes, outputs, efficiency, effectiveness, efficacy, benefits, and costs (human, material, opportunity) as well as cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit are discussed. A new concept of Best Outcome Without Assistance (BOWA) is presented. Responses and interventions directed at prevention or mitigation of the damage produced must be evaluated from the perspective of their outcomes and to what extent they benefit the societies affected or at risk in relation to the goals and objectives defined prior to implementation of the intervention(s).

Keywords

actionsbenefitsBest Outcome Without Assistance (BOWA)changecostsdamageeffectivenesseffectsefficacyefficiencygoalsinterventionsoutputsobjectivesoutcomesprocesses
Type
Conceptual Framework
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 17 , Issue S3: Health Disaster Management: Guidelines for Evaluation and Research in the “Utstein Style” , December 2002 , pp. 102 - 112
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2002

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