An Evaluation of the Gay Men’s Health Service Outreach Programme
| dc.contributor.author | Comiskey, Catherine | |
| dc.contributor.author | Galligan, Karen | |
| dc.contributor.author | Prakashini, Banka | |
| dc.contributor.author | McDonagh, Dave | |
| dc.contributor.author | O'Brien Green, Síoban | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-01-04T10:55:34Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-01-04T10:55:34Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-12 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10147/623993 | |
| dc.description | The Gay Men’s Health Service (GMHS) pilot outreach programme was established in response to increases in the incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM). The GMHS is the only MSM-specific sexual health service in Ireland. The National Sexual Health Strategy 2015–2020 clearly identifies gay men, bisexual men and MSM as having an increased risk of poorer sexual health outcomes and of contracting STIs and HIV. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of peer-led HIV-prevention interventions that target MSM. The overarching aim was to provide an evaluation of the pilot outreach programme developed by the GMHS in partnership with the Gay Health Network (GHN) and funded by the Assistant National Director for Public Health and National Medical Officer of Health in the HSE. A concurrent, multi-method study design was developed. The evaluation methods included: • A quantitative analysis of service delivery data (online-outreach and venue-based data), which facilitated the evaluation of objectives one to seven of the GMHS outreach programme, and of how the programme was received by the target audience; • A qualitative analysis of non-participant structured observation on-site, which provided data (information on how the programme was delivered and operational procedures) for objectives one, two, three, four and eight of the service; • A qualitative documentary analysis of existing documentary evidence within the service, which provided further data on operational procedures, and on how the programme was delivered; • A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, which provided further information that allowed the identification of the critical success factors and barriers from the perspective of the stakeholders. The evaluation findings demonstrated that the outreach programme was delivering an efficient and effective service that met its eight objectives and operated in line with its stated code of governance. The key challenges to service development related to having to operate within the confines of ongoing uncertainty regarding (1) financial resourcing, with responsibility for the sustainability of the service unclear, and (2) operationalising of the resources. Furthermore, while leadership and governance were excellent in the early stages, as the delivery developed and progressed, a strong need emerged for improved administrative, management and governance structures and for improved clarity regarding the ownership and documentation of the service within the overall healthcare system. | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Health Service Executive (HSE) | en_US |
| dc.subject | HIV | en_US |
| dc.subject | SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS | en_US |
| dc.subject | EVALUATION | en_US |
| dc.subject | Men who have sex with men | en_US |
| dc.subject | OUTREACH WORK | en_US |
| dc.title | An Evaluation of the Gay Men’s Health Service Outreach Programme | en_US |
| dc.type | Report | en_US |
| dc.contributor.department | Trinity College Dublin | en_US |
| refterms.dateFOA | 2019-01-04T10:55:34Z |
