Evaluation and Program Planning 29 (2006) 269–279 Evaluating an evidence-based physical activity intervention website Laura K. Brennan Ramirez a,Ã , Julie M. Bender a , Ellen K. Barnidge a , Elizabeth A. Baker b , Garland Land c a Transtria L.L.C., 3525 Watson Road, Ste. R, St. Louis, MO 63139-2051, USA b Department of Community Health and Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, Salus Center, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63104-1314, USA c National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA Received 1 October 2005; received in revised form 12 October 2005; accepted 3 November 2005 Abstract Evidence-based practice has emerged as a central tenet of medical care and public health. Despite accumulating evidence for intervention effectiveness, public health professionals have insufficient information to present definitive intervention planning recommendations. Therefore, evidence-based decision-making processes, not just interventions, need to be translated and disseminated to public health practitioners, policy-makers, and other community stakeholders. A series of inter-related web-based systems (Missouri Information for Community Assessment, and Intervention MICA) have been developed for local-level community planning, intervention, and evaluation. This study evaluated the physical activity module of the Intervention MICA. Findings from direct observations and surveys of public health practitioners and other intended audiences were very favorable for the utility of the system and its applicability in community settings. Respondents recommended enhancements to the system, including the need to improve navigation, diversify the format and presentation of information, define or clarify terms, and modify specific contents of the system. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Intervention; Evidence-based; Evaluation 1. Introduction In the last two decades, evidence-based practice has emerged as a central tenet of medical care and public health (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2003; Briss, Zaza et al., 2000; Brownson, Baker et al., 1999, 2002, 2003; Guyatt, 1999; Guyatt, Cook et al., 2004; Guyatt, Haynes et al., 1997; Jaeschke, Guyatt et al., 1998; Montori & Guyatt et al., 2001; Montori, Guyatt et al., 2002; Rychetnik, Hawe et al., 2004). In response, public health researchers have developed impressive surveillance systems and methods to disseminate effective interventions in order to decrease morbidity and mortality rates across populations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/brfss/), WONDER (http:// wonder.cdc.gov/), and Community Guide to Preventive Services (http://www.thecommunityguide.org/). To sup- port evidence-based decision-making in community set- tings, it is essential to summarize and translate these findings from public health research into tools and resources that are accessible for practitioners, policy- makers, and other community stakeholders. In Missouri, a series of inter-related web-based tools have been developed to assist in community planning, intervention, and evaluation at the local level. This system, Missouri Information for Community Assessment (MICA), translates evidence from existing data sources (e.g., death certificates, birth certificates, hospital patient abstracts, enrollment data for state programs, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, vital statistics) tracked by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services into resources for individuals, organizations, and communities to improve health through the provision of ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/evalprogplan 0149-7189/$ - see front matter r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2005.11.008 Ã Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 314 781 1562; fax: +1 314 781 1906. E-mail address: laura@transtria.com (L.K. Brennan Ramirez). URL: http://www.transtria.com.