Effective Evaluation Designs for Healthcare Program Success

Topics: Health, Healthcare, Success Words: 557 Pages: 3

Introduction

Evaluation is an indispensable part of any program development process, and various evaluation designs exist (Kinsey and Miller 477). In many cases, continuous evaluation can be needed, which is the case with the proposed project as the program is associated with extensive training and the change of several procedures (Yoder-Wise 130). In simple terms, it can be beneficial to implement the evaluation of the project several times. Therefore, it is possible to employ all the strategies mentioned above or certain elements of some evaluation methods (see table 1).

Table 1

Evaluation Designs

Evaluation Design	Description	Rationale
Measuring time	Hickey and Brosnan note that quantitative designs are the most appropriate when it comes to the evaluation of healthcare programs (14). Grove et al. also support this idea and stress that quantitative data help identify the exact outcomes and effectiveness of the program (39). Therefore, it is possible to focus on the exact changes in door-to-balloon time. Electronic reporting can help estimate the time. Thus, healthcare professionals can put certain notes when the patient receives services.	This can be regarded as the most appropriate strategy that should be used to evaluate the program in question. The major goal of the intervention is to reduce door-to-balloon time so it is but natural that this variable should be central. The healthcare facility in question has all the necessary tools for the successful implementation of the evaluation.
Self-reporting	Qualitative designs can also be employed as they help to evaluate people’s commitment to the program’s goals and procedures (Armstrong Persily 148). Self-reporting can be used to evaluate the program in question. Healthcare professionals can report their ideas, hopes, concerns, and recommendations. This information can be analyzed, and the corresponding changes can be introduced.	Qualitative data will not help the researcher understand whether the major goals of the intervention have been achieved. At the same time, this can be regarded as a supplementary method to evaluate other aspects of the program. Healthcare professionals’ ideas can help the researcher improve the program and eliminate flaws if any.
Outcome-based evaluation	This design implies the evaluation of health outcomes and patient satisfaction. Schalock notes that the outcome-based paradigm is the most effective as it enables to see the exact results of a program (21). The evaluation will involve quantitative research. The rate of deaths and complications will be estimated. A survey identifying patient satisfaction can also be implemented. If such rates remain unchanged or increase after the program implementation, it is clear that it is ineffective and changes are critical.	This design also fails to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in terms of its major goal. Nevertheless, it can also help assess the impact of the program associated with patients’ health outcomes and their satisfaction. At that, the implementation of the design will require a substantial investment of time as the analysis of patients’ surveys, and certain statistical data is needed.

Conclusion

It is possible to note that the most appropriate evaluation design is associated with the focus on the program’s major goal. It is necessary to analyze the changes (if any) in the door-to-balloon time after the implementation of the program. However, it can also be beneficial to carry out further studies that involve healthcare professionals’ self-reporting and patients’ surveys and their health outcomes. The use of these strategies will facilitate the evaluation process.

Works Cited

Armstrong Persily, Cynthia. Team Leadership and Partnering in Nursing and Health Care. Springer Publishing Company, 2014.

Grove, Susan K., Et al. Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2014.

Hickey, Joanne V., and Christine A. Brosnan. “Evaluation in Advanced Practice Nursing.” Evaluation of Health Care Quality in Advanced Practice Nursing, edited by Joanne V. Hickey, and Christine A. Brosnan, Springer Publishing Company, 2012, pp. 1-25.

Kinsey, Katherine K., and Mary Ellen T. Miller. “The Nursing Center: A Model for Nursing Practice in the Community.” Evaluation of Health Care Quality in Advanced Practice Nursing, edited by Marcia Stanhope and Jeanette Lancaster, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2014, pp. 461-483.

Schalock, Robert L. Outcome-Based Evaluation. Springer Science & Business Media, 2013.

Yoder-Wise, Patricia S. Leading and Managing in Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2014.