ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
Healthcare programs and policies address various aspects of population health, including access, costs, and health-related behaviors. Evaluation informs implementers about the program/policy effectiveness. Program evaluation uses data to determine the program’s worth, forming the basis for progressive improvement (Balmer et al., 2020). As program designers and implementers, nurses can play a central role in the evaluation process. The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate a healthcare program and reflect on the criteria used to measure its effectiveness.
| Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation | The Motherwise Program |
| Description | The Motherwise program is a community-based intervention for pregnant women and those who had a baby recently. It combines an evidence-based relationship education curriculum for the recipients with case management on effective infant care and parenting (Allen et al., 2023). |
| How was the success of the program or policy measured? | The program’s success was measured using data from medical charts. From a health dimension, Allen et al. (2023) evaluated the program’s impact on postpartum depression and depression history. |
| How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected? | Participants included 425 women who took part in a larger randomized controlled trial of the Motherwise program when pregnant. The program had a profound impact since it addressed mental health problems among this critical population and enabled them to improve their parenting and infant care outcomes. |
| At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted? | The program evaluation was summative. Allen et al. (2023) evaluated the program’s effectiveness after the participants completed the Motherwise program. |
| What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation? | Outcome data: typically, outcome data relates to the changes in the population’s or the patient’s health that researchers or program implementers want to achieve (Westerink et al., 2024). In this program, project implementers assessed the rates of postpartum depression (PPD) screens among women without a depression history and those identifying as Black or African American. |
| What specific information on unintended consequences were identified? | The main unintended consequence was losing valuable data for 7.5% of the participants. As a result, the final results took into account data of 393 participants. Researchers also found no statistical difference between the intervention and control group. |
| 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. | Medical providers (healthcare practitioners), researchers, and patients collaborated to evaluate the program. Medical professionals provided accurate data through patients’ medical charts. Researchers analyzed this data statistically.
Healthcare providers and policymakers would benefit the most from the results and reporting of the program evaluation. Care providers in hospitals and related healthcare facilities advocate for patients’ needs through programs and health education initiatives (Kuehne et al., 2022; Morris, 2023). Policymakers also collaborate with various stakeholders to influence health positively through outcome-driven initiatives in healthcare facilities and communities. These results would inform these stakeholders about the value of mental health initiatives for women during pregnancy and postpartum. |
| Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not? | The Motherwise program met its original intent and objectives. Allen et al. (2023) reported that the program was associated with lower rates of positive PPD screens among women without depression history and those identifying as Black or African Americans. These results indicate that it is a valuable project in reducing PPD rates. |
| Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not? | I would recommend a similar program in my workplace. It demonstrates the value of education programs and case management information on preventing PPD among women. As healthcare providers, it is crucial to implement such programs to improve women’s mental health. |
| 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. | I. Interviewing program’s recipients: this is a direct approach to evaluating a program qualitatively using primary data.
II. Reviewing medical charts/electronic health records: a comparative analysis of data at baseline and after one year of implementation can help nurses evaluate quantitative differences. Such analysis can demonstrate whether a program was statistically or clinically significant.
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| General Notes/Comments | The Motherwise program demonstrates a positive intervention for reducing PPD rates among women. Its potential to address mental health problems among women justifies its adoption in communities and healthcare settings. Accordingly, nurses should advocate for such workplace programs to ensure improved patient outcomes. |
Conclusion
Healthcare programs/ policies are goal-driven interventions for improving population health. Their evaluation helps advocates, designers, and implementers to determine whether the desired goals were achieved. The Motherwise program’s evaluation was done after its completion (summative). Nurses can use such approaches to evaluate programs/policies and get information to guide future improvements or large-scale implementation depending on the outcomes.
References
Allen, M. O., Rhoades, G. K., & Mazzoni, S. E. (2023). Individual-oriented relationship education and postpartum depression: the impact of the MotherWise program. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1-26. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/cfp0000241
Balmer, D. F., Riddle, J. M., & Simpson, D. (2020). Program evaluation: Getting started and standards. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 12(3), 345–346. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-20-00265.1
Kuehne, F., Kalkman, L., Joshi, S., Tun, W., Azeem, N., Buowari, D. Y., Amugo, C., Kallestrup, P., & Kraef, C. (2022). Healthcare provider advocacy for primary health care strengthening: a call for action. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 13, 21501319221078379. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319221078379
Morris, G. (2023). How nurses can advocate for patients. NurseJournal. https://nursejournal.org/articles/how-to-advocate-for-patients/
Westerink, H. J., Bresser, C. C., Garvelink, M. M., van Uden-Kraan, C. F., Zouitni, O., Bart, H. A., … & van der Voort, P. H. (2024). The use of outcome data in patient consultations from the healthcare professionals’ and patients’ perspectives: a mixed methods study. Patient Education and Counseling, 118, 108043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.108043
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
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.
