The role of thematic evaluation in program assessment: the case of the Community Clinical Oncology Program

The evaluation of programs with multiple, and potentially conflicting, goals requires the integration of measures of goal achievement that often are not easily combined. One approach is the development of analytical themes which span the various goals of a particular program. The themes provide a mechanism by which the policy concerns of individuals with varying perspectives can be integrated into the evaluation framework. As well, the themes allow for flexibility in the development of new analysis as the program matures and environments change. This paper describes the application of the thematic approach to the evaluation of a complex, community-oriented cancer research program.