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Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve

Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs

Closeup shot of a doctor writing notes during a consultation with a patient. Source: istockphoto

Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.

Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.

To Prepare:

  • Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
  • Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
  • Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.

The Assignment: (2–3 pages)

Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:

  • Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
  • How was the success of the program or policy measured?
  • How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
  • How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
  • At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
  • What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
  • What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
  • What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
  • Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
  • Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
  • Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.

Expert Answer and Explanation

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Patient Self-Management Support Programs
Description The program’s objective is to assess the significance of a four-component intervention meant to prevent falls-related injuries. Part of the intervention will involve the use of customized action plan which emphasizes empowering patients to understand how to manage falls.
How was the success of the program or policy measured? To determine the program’s success, the researchers collected data on cases of falls recorded in hospitals, and data that patients and physicians provided. The data was specifically collected from patients who visited the emergency departments seeking treatment for the injuries sustained during falls.
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected? To ensure that the program benefits as many people as possible, 5,757 individuals, considered to be at an increased risk of fall were targeted. Following the implementation of the program, hospitals recorded fewer cases of falls. Patients and health insurers spent less on injuries related to the falls (Glasgow, Lichtenstein, & Marcus, 2003). Therefore, the inference that one can make based on these results is that the program is provides an effective intervention for mitigating the costs.
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation? Those involved in the implementation of the program used the LifePlans data to examine whether the program was effective in terms of contributing to the decline in cases of falls.
What specific information on unintended consequences were identified? Because patients took arrhythmia and other medications that raised the patients’ risk of fall, the unintended consequences reported included bruises.
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples. The healthcare professionals and the Medicare beneficiaries aged 75 years and above primarily participated in the program. Insurers equally took part in the program implementation. Because the program seeks to reduce the risk of falls among patients, the program benefitted patients more than any other group of stakeholders (Turner et al., 2022).
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not? The program attained the objective for which it was intended. This is because after measuring the outcomes, those who implemented the program found that hospitals reported fewer incidences of falls. This is because the interventions proposed as part of the program were effective to cause the decline in rates of falls among patients who took Medicare.
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not? Considering that the program addresses the factors that contribute to falls, I would suggest that the program be adopted in my workplace. Using the program, it would be possible to use it to determine how effective a falls prevention system is (Shiramizu et al., 2016).
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after one year of implementation. Working within the capacity of a nurse advocate, I could participate in assessing the efficacy of the program by assessing patients as part of the process of collecting data (Williams & Anderson, 2018). During patient assessment, I would focus on the patients’ history of falls, recording this information so that it can help those who would evaluate the program’s effectiveness, evaluate its benefit.
General Notes/Comments One of the things that one should keep in mind is that assessing how effective a program is, is important in the sense that it helps optimize the outcomes of interventions meant to minimize cases of falls. It is also worth noting that when gathering data, one should be consistent in terms of how they collect data (Milstead & Short, 2019). Consistency, in this case, means using the same data collection approach when gathering data prior to and after conducting the study.

References

Glasgow, R. E., Lichtenstein, E., & Marcus, A. C. (2003). Why don’t we see more translation of health promotion research to practice? Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transitionLinks to an external site.. American Journal of Public Health, 93(8), 1261–1267.

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Shiramizu, B., Shambaugh, V., Petrovich, H., Seto, T. B., Ho, T., Mokuau, N., & Hedges, J. R. (2016). Leading by success: Impact of a clinical and translational research infrastructure program to address health inequitiesLinks to an external site.. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 4(5), 983–991.

Turner, K., Staggs, V. S., Potter, C., Cramer, E., Shorr, R. I., & Mion, L. C. (2022). Fall Prevention Practices and Implementation Strategies: Examining Consistency Across Hospital Units. Journal of patient safety18(1), e236–e242. https://doi.org/10.1097/PTS.0000000000000758.

Williams, J. K., & Anderson, C. M. (2018). Omics research ethics considerationsLinks to an external site.. Nursing Outlook, 66(4), 386–393.

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FAQs:

What is the purpose of policy evaluation?

The purpose of policy evaluation is to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of policies and programs. It helps determine whether a policy achieves its intended goals, identifies areas for improvement, and ensures optimal use of resources. Key objectives include:

  1. Measuring outcomes – To see if the policy delivers the desired results.

  2. Assessing cost-effectiveness – To evaluate if the policy is worth the investment.

  3. Informing future decisions – To guide policy adjustments or the development of new policies.

  4. Ensuring accountability – To hold policymakers and implementers responsible for achieving outcomes.

Healthcare program or policy evaluation examples

Source: istockphoto

Examples of healthcare program or policy evaluations include:

  1. Medicare Expansion Evaluation – Assessing the impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on healthcare access, costs, and outcomes for low-income populations.

  2. Smoking Cessation Program Evaluation – Evaluating the effectiveness of community-based smoking cessation programs in reducing smoking rates and improving public health.

  3. Vaccination Program Evaluation – Analyzing the success of immunization initiatives in increasing vaccination coverage and preventing diseases.

  4. Hospital Readmission Reduction Program – Assessing the outcomes of programs designed to reduce hospital readmissions by improving care coordination and patient education.

  5. Electronic Health Record (EHR) Implementation – Evaluating the impact of EHR systems on healthcare efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes.

What is the difference between program evaluation and policy evaluation?

Feature Program Evaluation Policy Evaluation
Purpose Assesses the effectiveness of specific programs or projects. Evaluates the overall impact and effectiveness of policies.
Focus Focuses on individual programs or interventions. Focuses on the broader implications and outcomes of policies.
Scope Narrower, targeting specific goals and activities. Broader, looking at systemic or long-term impacts.
Timing Conducted during or after the implementation of a program. Often conducted after the policy has been enacted and applied.
Stakeholders Program managers, participants, and staff. Policymakers, government agencies, and the public.
Data Type Often includes performance data and participant outcomes. Involves broader social, economic, or health outcomes.

What are the 4 types of policy evaluation?

The four main types of policy evaluation are:

  1. Ex Ante Evaluation – Conducted before a policy is implemented to assess potential impacts, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness.

  2. Formative Evaluation – Focuses on the process during the implementation of a policy to ensure it is being carried out as planned and to identify areas for improvement.

  3. Summative Evaluation – Occurs after policy implementation to assess the outcomes and effectiveness in achieving its goals.

  4. Impact Evaluation – Measures the long-term, broader effects of a policy on the target population or society as a whole.