Meta‐evaluation of studies on community physical activity programs in Brazil

Background The use of the meta‐evaluation, especially in health promotion programs, is still scarce. Aim To verify if the evaluation studies conducted about the Academia da Cidade Programme and the Academia da Saúde Programme comply with the principles and standards of the meta‐evaluation. Methods This meta‐evaluation study was conducted using articles from scientific databases. The parameters of utility, propriety, and accuracy, as defined by the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, and specificity, were applied. The classification of the studies was based on the Stufflebeam's checklist. Results Of the 18 selected articles, the principle of utility was fully met in 50%, given that 27.8% were classified as very good, 5.6% as good, and 16.7% as fair. The principle of propriety mostly received the result of very good (44.4%), followed by excellent (38.9%), good (11.15), and weak (5.6%). The principle of accuracy was classified as excellent in 44.4% of the studies, considering that in 33.3% it was considered very good; 11.1% good, and 11.1% fair. Specificity was classified as very good in 94.4% of the studies. Conclusion The physical activity community programs evaluations were carried out in accordance to the principles and standards of meta‐evaluation tenets. Most studies were classified as excellent regarding the principle of utility and accuracy, or very good as for the principle of propriety and specificity. Highlights The Meta‐evaluation based on evaluative studies on national health promotion programs is still little explored in the literature. The meta‐evaluation made possible to analyse the evaluation studies systematically and to verify the quality of the evaluations. The majority of the studies was classified as excellent or very good, and were in accordance to the principles and standards of meta‐evaluation. This meta‐evaluation shows that there is quality of the evaluations about community programs to promote the practice of physical activity.