Precede vs. Proceed

Attribute	Precede	Proceed
Definition	Focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of health and social problems	Focuses on implementing and evaluating interventions to address identified problems
Planning	Emphasizes planning and assessment phases	Emphasizes implementation and evaluation phases
Community Involvement	Encourages community involvement in identifying needs and solutions	May involve community members in implementing interventions
Behavior Change	Focuses on behavior change theories and models	Focuses on behavior change strategies and techniques

Introduction

Precede and Proceed are two models that are often used in public health and community development to plan and evaluate programs. While they sound similar, they have distinct differences in their approaches and applications. In this article, we will compare the attributes of Precede and Proceed to understand how they differ and when each model is most appropriate to use.

Precede Model

The Precede model stands for Predisposing, Reinforcing, and Enabling Constructs in Educational Diagnosis and Evaluation. It is a planning model that focuses on identifying the factors that influence health behaviors and designing interventions based on those factors. The Precede model starts with the premise that behavior change is influenced by a combination of predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors.

One of the key strengths of the Precede model is its emphasis on understanding the root causes of health behaviors. By identifying the factors that predispose individuals to certain behaviors, enable or hinder behavior change, and reinforce behavior, interventions can be tailored to address these specific factors. This can lead to more effective and sustainable behavior change outcomes.

Another advantage of the Precede model is its focus on community involvement and participation. The model encourages collaboration with community members, stakeholders, and other relevant parties in the planning and implementation of interventions. This participatory approach can help ensure that interventions are culturally appropriate, relevant, and sustainable in the long term.

However, one limitation of the Precede model is its complexity. The model has multiple steps and components that need to be carefully followed and implemented. This can be challenging for practitioners who are new to the model or working with limited resources. Additionally, the Precede model may require a significant amount of time and resources to fully implement and evaluate.

In summary, the Precede model is a comprehensive planning model that focuses on understanding the factors that influence health behaviors and designing interventions based on those factors. It emphasizes community involvement and participation but may be complex and resource-intensive to implement.

Proceed Model

The Proceed model stands for Policy, Regulatory, and Organizational Constructs in Educational and Environmental Development. It is an evaluation model that focuses on assessing the impact of interventions on health outcomes and making adjustments as needed. The Proceed model builds on the Precede model by providing a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and making informed decisions for future planning.

One of the key strengths of the Proceed model is its focus on evaluation and feedback. The model emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluating the impact of interventions on health outcomes. By collecting and analyzing data on the effectiveness of interventions, practitioners can make informed decisions about whether to continue, modify, or discontinue interventions.

Another advantage of the Proceed model is its flexibility. The model can be adapted to different contexts, populations, and health issues. This flexibility allows practitioners to tailor the model to meet the specific needs and goals of their programs. Additionally, the Proceed model can be used to evaluate interventions at different stages of implementation, from planning to sustainability.

However, one limitation of the Proceed model is its focus on evaluation rather than planning. While evaluation is important for assessing the impact of interventions, the model may not provide as much guidance on how to design and implement interventions in the first place. This can be a drawback for practitioners who are looking for a more comprehensive planning model.

In summary, the Proceed model is an evaluation model that focuses on assessing the impact of interventions on health outcomes and making informed decisions for future planning. It emphasizes evaluation and feedback but may not provide as much guidance on planning and implementation as the Precede model.

Comparison

When comparing the attributes of Precede and Proceed, it is clear that both models have distinct strengths and limitations. The Precede model is a planning model that focuses on understanding the factors that influence health behaviors and designing interventions based on those factors. It emphasizes community involvement and participation but may be complex and resource-intensive to implement.

On the other hand, the Proceed model is an evaluation model that focuses on assessing the impact of interventions on health outcomes and making informed decisions for future planning. It emphasizes evaluation and feedback but may not provide as much guidance on planning and implementation as the Precede model.

Overall, the choice between using the Precede or Proceed model will depend on the specific goals and needs of the program. If the focus is on designing interventions that address the root causes of health behaviors and involve the community in planning and implementation, the Precede model may be more appropriate. If the focus is on evaluating the impact of interventions and making informed decisions for future planning, the Proceed model may be a better fit.

Ultimately, both models have valuable contributions to make in the field of public health and community development. By understanding the attributes of Precede and Proceed, practitioners can make informed decisions about which model to use based on their program goals and needs.