Question

1 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 4. Using the life cycle as a framework, explain when and why you would use a formative or summative evaluation 1. Of the levels of theory discussed in this chapter, what level would be most appropriate for evaluation of electronic health records? Would the level of theory be different if the intervention was for an application targeting a new scheduling system in a clinic? Why? 5. What are the basic differences between a research study and a program evaluation? 6. Review the following article: Harris A, McGregor J, Perencevich E, et al. The use and interpretation of quasi- experimental studies in medical informatics. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2006;13:16-23. Explain how you might apply these research designs in structuring a program evaluation. 2. What is the difference between program evaluation and program-evaluation research? 3. Assume that you are conducting an evaluation of a new decision support system for preventative alerts. What kind of designs would you use in a program evaluation study? CASE STUDY A 410-bed enty pytem for 5 ears, Leaders recently decided to put in Commission accreditation standards, and the IT department bur code administration software to scan medications at the is worn time of delivery in order to dec administration is concerned about medication errors, top in each patients room; nurses will scan the medicat hospital has used a homegrown provi ider order. level administration is concerned about meeting the Joint decid ied that the scanners may not be reliable and may break, increasing their costs. The plan is to have a scanner rease medical error. The ion when

Answer 1

Levels of theory

Grand nursing theories

Mid range theories

Nursing practice theories

1) For evaluation of electronic health records Grand nursing theories would be appropriate as grand nursing theories reflect and provide insights useful for practice, if the intervention was for an application targeting a new scheduling system mid range theories would be used as mid range theories are more tangiable and verifiable through testing, they present concept of lower level of abstraction and guide theory based research.

2) Program evaluation are individual systematic studies conducted periodically, while research aims to produce new knowledge within a field.

Evaluation assigns value to a program while research are value free

Evaluation answers the question, is it working? While research answers the question, Did it work?

3) Experimental or quasi experimental design would be used as these help to provide evidence between service and outcome.

4) Formative evaluation is used periodically to know the progress, while summative evaluation is used at the end to know the result.

5) Program evaluation helps to know the effectiveness of any program, while research helps to find the ways to be effective.