Evaluating a moving target: Using Practical Participatory Evaluation (P-PE) in hospital settings

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Program Evaluation
• Clinical Research Implementation

Background:

• Hospital settings present unique methodological challenges for program evaluations.
• Clinical demonstration projects often operate in novel environments with high staff and patient turnover, complicating data collection.
• Traditional evaluation methods may struggle to adapt to the dynamic nature of hospital environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe lessons learned from implementing evaluations within hospital settings.
• To present a practical participatory evaluation (P-PE) strategy for overcoming methodological dilemmas.
• To engage stakeholders effectively in evaluating clinical demonstration projects.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a practical participatory evaluation (P-PE) strategy.
• Focused on engaging multiple stakeholders throughout the evaluation process.
• Applied the strategy to a clinical demonstration project in a hospital setting.

Main Results:

• P-PE facilitated stakeholder engagement and built capacity within the hospital environment.
• The strategy expanded possibilities for data collection despite challenges like staff and patient turnover.
• Practical lessons were learned regarding the implementation of evaluations in complex healthcare settings.

Conclusions:

• Practical participatory evaluation (P-PE) is an effective strategy for navigating the complexities of hospital-based program evaluation.
• Engaging stakeholders through P-PE enhances data collection and capacity building in clinical demonstration projects.
• The experience provides valuable suggestions for future evaluations in similar settings.