Processes, outcomes and evaluation: challenges to practice development in gerontological nursing

Abstract

When aligned to participants' needs, evaluation may be used to enhance practice developers' work. Process evaluation enables practice developers to evaluate as they develop; making evaluation an integral part of practice development rather than an 'add on task'. It is contended that beginning practice developers can discharge their need to evaluate their work through the practice development techniques of critical reflection, dialogue and action learning. These form the basis of iterative and formative evaluation activity. However other types of evaluation are important for different audiences in practice development. Consideration of the purpose and utility of evaluation in a range of contexts in which gerontological nursing occurs, brings some clarity regarding the scope of the evaluation required to sustain practice development initiatives. In addition, it helps to clarify the nature of the evaluation required to provide evidence of patient-centred outcomes from developments in the practice of gerontological nursing.

Developing person‐centred practice: nursing outcomes arising from changes to the care environment in residential settings for older people

“…While the principles and values of person‐centred care are enshrined in contemporary nursing and healthcare policy and strategy, other empirical evidence available to support this approach as an operational framework for nursing and healthcare delivery is as yet unconvincing, in part this is because the literature is relatively new and thus underdeveloped. In addition, the evaluation of nursing outcomes in general and person‐centred outcomes in particular is complex (Conway, 2004; Dewing et al. , 2006; Nolan et al.…”

“…While the principles and values of person-centred care are enshrined in contemporary nursing and healthcare policy and strategy, other empirical evidence available to support this approach as an operational framework for nursing and healthcare delivery is as yet unconvincing, in part this is because the literature is relatively new and thus underdeveloped. In addition, the evaluation of nursing outcomes in general and person-centred outcomes in particular is complex (Conway, 2004;Dewing et al, 2006;Nolan et al, 2006;. Descriptive accounts of person-centred nursing leave little doubt that it does impact on patients' experience of care and nurses' and the healthcare teams' experiences of caring (Parley, 2001;Webster and Dewing, 2007;Edvardsson et al, 2008).…”

The REDIH experience: an emerging design to develop an effective training program for graduate students in reproductive science

“…A number of program evaluation models and frameworks that focus on the transfer of knowledge to the workplace have emerged, shifting the evaluation focus from outcomes (evidence) to process (practice) 2,6–11. Process evaluation enables practice developers to evaluate as they develop, making evaluation an integral embedded part of practice development rather than an “add on” activity 12. There have been a number of evaluation strategies shifting the focus from proving to improving, utility-led evaluating, and participatory evaluation, all with the basic premise of understanding and improving the learning process.…”

Feminist‐informed participatory action research: A methodology of choice for examining critical nursing issues

“…Health professionals, including nurses and health service administrators, are charged with maintaining high‐quality services to consumers. Initiatives, for example, practice development, are utilized in health‐care environments to support clinicians to enhance their service delivery capacity and ultimately improve health outcomes for consumers 1–7 . Proposed studies using the framework of participatory action research (PAR) seek to assist health professionals to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge required to meet these challenges 7–10 .…”

“…Initiatives, for example, practice development, are utilized in health‐care environments to support clinicians to enhance their service delivery capacity and ultimately improve health outcomes for consumers 1–7 . Proposed studies using the framework of participatory action research (PAR) seek to assist health professionals to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge required to meet these challenges 7–10 . Situated within the critical naturalistic paradigm, PAR aims tofacilitate change using a recurring cyclical process of engagement, collaboration, cooperation, reflection and evaluation.…”