What does impact evaluation measure?

Impact evaluation specifically measures the direct effects of an intervention on the target population, assessing the changes brought about by a specific program or policy. This form of evaluation focuses on understanding how well an intervention has achieved its intended outcomes and the magnitude of those outcomes within the population it aimed to impact. It examines both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of these changes, providing insights into the effectiveness of the intervention.

While evaluating the implementation of healthcare programs is essential for understanding how well they are executed, this does not capture the outcomes and changes experienced by the population. Similarly, long-term outcomes of health policies are typically assessed in a separate type of evaluation called outcome evaluation, which looks more broadly at effects over an extended period rather than immediate impacts. Lastly, measuring the satisfaction levels of healthcare providers is important for gauging their perspectives but does not directly reflect the effects of the intervention on the health outcomes of the target population. Therefore, the focus of impact evaluation is primarily on the direct effects of an intervention, making this the accurate answer.