HCA 699 Section F: Evaluation

Evaluation is the last step in the implementation of evidence-based practice projects. It mainly aims at determining the effectiveness of the project in addressing the identified clinical or community health need. The evaluation process is used to gauge whether the goals that were developed earlier in the project were met or not. It also seeks to identify the manner or level of stakeholder involvement and the exploration of their perception towards the project. Often, evaluation data is used to determine the worthiness of a project to the organization. The outcome data from the evaluation is used to project its sustainability and ability to promote the realization of the long-term goals of the organization. Therefore, this section of the project explores the approaches to evaluation that will be utilized in the research.

Methods Use for Collecting Outcome Data

As revealed initially, questionnaires will be utilized in the acquisition of outcome data for this project. The subjects will be provided with questionnaires to determine their subjective experiences with the intervention. The questionnaires will be both open and closed-ended. The use of the combined type of questionnaires will be to enable the participants to provide detailed information that can be used in determining the effectiveness of the intervention. Questionnaires are also considered effective for this project due to the vast information that will be obtained from their use. Unlike other methods of data collection such as interviews, the use of questionnaires is relatively cheaper and faster. This can be seen from the multiple questionnaires that will be administered to the participants at the same time (Boeri, 2019). Similarly, the depth of information that is obtained with the use of questionnaires is detailed and specific, hence, easy process of data analysis and interpretation.

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The other method that will be utilized in collecting the outcome data for the project is statistics on falls among hospitalized patients. It is anticipated that the rates of patient falls will decline with the implementation of the project. The proposed intervention will be administered in one ward while another ward will be used as the control. The rates of patient falls in both wards will then be compared to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Through this, objective evaluation of the intervention will be possible.

Ways in which Outcome Measures Evaluate the Extent of Achieving Project Objectives

One of the objectives of the proposed intervention is to reduce the rates of patient falls in the inpatient settings in the hospital. This therefore implies that this goal will be achieved if a statistical and clinically significant change is observed in patient falls after the implementation of the intervention. The other objective of the intervention is to increase the level of knowledge among the nurses on the prevention of patient falls. As a result, the subjective data obtained from them will enable the researcher to determine if the objectives of the project have been met or not. A positive perception among the subjects will imply that the objectives of the project were met. The last objective of the project is to promote active stakeholder involvement and effective use of the allocated resources. These goals will have been achieved if the subjects expressed to have played an active role in the whole process of project implementation (Thomas, 2017). Besides, an effective use of the allocated resources will translate into successful realization of the objectives of the project.

Measuring and Evaluating Outcomes based on Evidence

A number of evidence-base methods can be utilized in measuring and evaluating outcomes of the project. One of them is the use of process measures. Process measures focuses on the steps that were adopted to achieve the overall goal of the project. It examines the services that were offered, policies, procedures, regulations, leadership and management styles, and strategic interventions that were used to achieve the outcomes of the project. It also determines the resources that were used as well as assumptions that guided the whole process (Boeri, 2019). Outcome evaluation on the other hand examines whether the set goals or the project were achieved or not. The aim is the development of hypotheses that will provide insight into the effectiveness of the intervention. For example, a conclusion on the effectiveness of the intervention will be reached if the treatment group reports fewer cases of patient falls when compared to the control group. Therefore, the aspects of process measures that will be used in the project include scope, schedule, budget, rules, policies, and strategies. Outcome measures will include rates of patient falls, effectiveness of use of the allocated resources, team satisfaction, and overall quality of care given to the patients (Ding & Runeson, 2020). The use of the outcome and process measures addresses the aspects of validity, reliability and applicability since the outcomes are followed over time to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.

Strategies to Take if the Intervention does not Produce Positive Results

One of the strategies that will be taken if the intervention does not produce positive results is re-examining the methods that were used. The methods will be re-investigated to determine if they had flaws or not. The other intervention will be considering the existing organizational structures that might have affected the outcomes. This will include the determination of the adequacy of the support from the hospital alongside the alignment of the intervention with the objectives of the hospital. The use of these interventions will pinpoint the cause of negative outcomes in the implementation of the project.

Implications for Practice and Future Research

The proposed intervention will have a number of implications for practice. Firstly, it will promote evidence-based practice in nursing. It will raise the relevance of the use of nursing rounds in preventing patient falls. It will also increase the need for the adoption of enabling structures in health organizations to promote patient safety. The other clinical implication is increasing the need for evidence-based practice in nursing. It will raise the relevance of similar projects in determining the safety and efficacy of the practices used in patient care. The implication of the project on future research is identifying areas of patient safety that can be explored to promote evidence-based practice (Thomas, 2017). For example, one can investigate the effectiveness of combining hourly nursing rounds and call lights in preventing patient falls.

Conclusion

Overall, a robust evaluation approach will be used in this project. The evaluation will focus on the process and outcome measures. This will provide an accurate assessment of the effectiveness of the intervention in addressing the problem prior and after the intervention. It is expected that the project will promote evidence-based practice and identify the need for future studies on patient safety in the clinical settings.

References

Boeri, T. (2019). Beyond the rule of thumb: Methods for evaluating public investment projects. Routledge.

Ding, G., & Runeson, G. (2020). A ‘Triple Bottom Line’Approach to Advanced Project Evaluation. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Thomas, G. (2017). How to do your research project: A guide for students. Sage.