Which comes first: the partnership or the tool? Reflections on the effective use of partnership tools in local health partnerships

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Sunderland ◽  
Debra Domalewski ◽  
Elizabeth Kendall ◽  
Kylie Armstrong

This paper focuses on the use of a partnership self-evaluation tool in local health partnerships in Australia. Partnership tools are intended to be used across all phases of partnership development and are typically delivered in the form of a self-administered survey. Survey questions are designed to encourage members of local partnerships to reflect on their progress to date and, if necessary, to reorient future activities to satisfy objectives and desired outcomes. In this paper we argue that without a broader surrounding framework of partnership development and appropriate assistance in administering partnership tools, the potential benefits of self evaluation in local partnerships may be restricted. We base these comments on a study of the use of a partnership self-evaluation tool as part of a broader chronic disease initiative in 17 communities across regional Australia during 2008. Although participants reported favourable outcomes from being involved in the local partnerships, and some found the tool to be of benefit, only 8 of the 17 partnerships actually used the self-evaluation tool. The reported reasons for non-use related primarily to: (1) lack of time; (2) perceptions that it was too early to ‘evaluate’ the partnership; and (3) difficulty in administering the tool. These barriers to use indicate that participants may have been unaware of the potential of the tool to assist in partnership development over time. Partnership participants may require more preparation to use partnership tools in a way that can secure high quality sustainable local health partnerships.

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 816-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Henry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider entrepreneurship education (EE) evaluation. Specifically, it explores some of the challenges involved in applying the HEInnovate tool, and considers ways in which its accuracy and value might be strengthened. Using Storey (2000) by way of reflective critique, the paper proposes an augmented framework to support the application of HEInnovate. It provides a further framework to help signpost those involved in EE towards a more robust consideration of EE evaluation. In so doing, the paper aims to contribute to extant theory in the field of EE by: raising awareness of the continued need for evaluation, highlighting the potential benefits as well as the associated challenges of applying a self-assessment framework such as the HEInnovate and finally, proposing an augmented framework, which enhances the accuracy and value of the HEInnovate tool. Some avenues worthy of future research are identified. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper that draws on extant EE evaluation frameworks, specifically Storey’s “Six steps” to Heaven (2000), to explore how a more robust application of the HEInnovate self-evaluation tool might be achieved. Findings – The HEInnovate framework is an easily accessible and widely applicable self-evaluation tool that higher education institutions (HEIs) are encouraged to use to determine their level of innovativeness and entrepreneurialism and, as a proxy, their preparedness to deliver EE programmes. The paper highlights the inherent challenges involved in administering self-evaluation frameworks of this nature, and uses Storey to identify areas for consideration so that the framework’s overall reliability and robustness can be enhanced, and findings rendered more accurate. The search for the “flawless” evaluative framework is likened to that of “Hunting the heffalump”. Research limitations/implications – As a conceptual, perspective paper, the paper is limited by personal opinion. The focus on a single self-assessment institutional evaluative framework is a further limiting factor. That said, this approach prompts those using the HEInnovate framework to reflect on ways in which its application can be rendered more accurate and reliable. Practical implications – The findings offer practical guidelines to enhance the overall robustness and accuracy of the HEInnovate framework. The paper will be of value to HEIs seeking to introduce or increase their EE provision. Originality/value – The paper demonstrates a novel application of Storey’s evaluative framework, allowing users of the HEInnovate tool to greatly enhance its robustness and value. It also provides two new frameworks signposting entrepreneurship educators towards more a more robust consideration of EE evaluation.


Author(s):  
Monika Derrien ◽  
Toby Bloom ◽  
Stacy Duke

The USDA Forest Service has recently piloted health partnerships that facilitate therapeutic outdoor experiences on national forests, building on the growing evidence of the multiple health benefits of activities and time spent in nature. This article presents brief case studies of three pilot partnerships between national forests and health organizations in California, Indiana, and Georgia (USA). These partnerships deliver nature-based programming for the general public as well as those who are in recovery from major surgeries, have been diagnosed with cancer, and face chronic health challenges. To help recreation managers and policy makers understand the potential for such local health partnerships in a federal context, we describe the programs’ enabling conditions, their incorporation of service and stewardship activities, and the challenges and successes they have faced. Insights inform an expanding variety of health partnership models that advance the interconnectedness of human and ecosystem health on public lands as a fundamental dimension of sustainable recreation management.


Author(s):  
TJ Ó Ceallaigh ◽  
Aoife Ní Shéaghdha

While research on Irish-medium immersion education (IME) has heralded benefits such as cognitive skills, academic achievement and language and literacy development, many studies have also identified challenges to its successful implementation. Immersion-specific research-validated tools can help school leaders navigate the school self-evaluation journey, critically review and evaluate the quality of aspects of their school’s provision and plan for improvement. This paper reports on one theme, leadership, from a larger study, Quality indicators of best practice in Irish-medium immersion (Ó Ceallaigh and Ní Shéaghdha, 2017). Qualitative in nature, the study was guided by the following research question: What are IME educators’ perceptions of best practices in IME?. The study explored 120 IME educators’ perceptions of best practice in IME to inform the development of IME quality indicators. Individual interviews and focus group interviews were utilised to collect data. Data analysis revealed particular themes related to best IME leadership practices. Findings in turn informed the design of an evidence-informed school self-evaluation tool for IME settings. The various functions of the tool will be explored with a particular emphasis on building teaching and leadership capacity in IME through the school self-evaluation process.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S28-S28
Author(s):  
M. Ladea ◽  
M. Bran

IntroductionWith the extraordinary rate of development of E-health and widespread internet access in Romania, Inomedica decided to create a platform dedicated primarily to the patients and their families: depresiv.ro. According to Internet Live Stats there were 11,178,477 Internet users in Romania (representing 51.66% of the population) in 2014. Inomedica is a non-governmental organization founded by a multidisciplinary team (psychiatrists, sociologists, IT specialists).The platforms provide rigorous and quality online information about depression as well as self-assessment tools and Q&A section.The presentation will explore the development and effects of the first 16 months of operation of a web platform about depression.MethodsThe depresiv.ro platform design is simple and user friendly. Mental health specialists contributed to the development of the content, which is easy to access and understand.The platform also provides access to a self-evaluation tool, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and thus helps the users identify possible problems and encourage them to seek professional help. The web application also included a demographic questionnaire, and a medical history questionnaire. A native iOS version of the application is available to download free on AppStore. The platform is supported by a Google grant program.ResultsThe platform traffic increased from a few users per day at launch to more than 1000 unique visitors per day. Since 1st January 2015, about 178,000 unique visitors accessed the platform. All the metrics improved significantly during the last months: bounce rate (66.3%), average session duration (02:17 minutes), number of pages per session (2.4).About 25,000 users accessed the HADS application since its release, from August 2014 until September 2015, showing the increasing need for free online self-evaluation tools.The Q&A section is one of the most visited on the platform since many users try to find answers for their questions regarding depressive or anxiety symptoms.ConclusionsAs new technologies are introduced and become more accessible, mental health specialists are developing new ways of providing services and collecting data. The traffic data/usage for both the depresiv.ro platform and the app are evidence for the widespread acceptability of web-based delivery methods.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Tim Pelton ◽  
Leslee Francis Pelton ◽  
Mary Sanseverino

This project began in response to a perceived need to assess students’ perceptions with respect to the emerging use of audience response systems (clickers) in several mid- to large-size undergraduate courses at the University of Victoria. We developed and validated a “Clicker Use Survey” to gather students’ opinions with respect to clicker utility and the impact of clicker use on their learning. With the collected data we generated a set of baseline distributions to support assessment of various clicker use protocols and created a self-evaluation tool to share with instructors to support teacher reflection on the efficacy of their clicker practices. We also provided a sample self-evaluation to model the use of the tool. Links to the survey instrument, baseline data and self-evaluation tool, and sample self-evaluation are provided.


1976 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent D. Beeler

1992 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
SB Henry ◽  
D Waltmire

BACKGROUND: Identifying the learning needs of employees and evaluating the results of staff development offerings are essential elements of the responsibilities of the staff development educator. High patient acuity, the shortage of critical care nurses, and rapidly changing technology within the critical care environment demand the provision of staff development offerings that are appropriate for the learning needs of critical care nurses and the evaluation of the effect of programs on critical care nursing practice. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this descriptive, correlational study were to compare the ability of a knowledge test, a self-evaluation tool, and computerized clinical simulations to discriminate between nurses with varied levels of knowledge and experience, and to compare the learning needs identified from the three types of evaluative instruments. METHODS: Each subject (n = 142) completed the Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool for Critical Care, Cardiovascular Self-Evaluation Tool, and four computerized clinical simulations. RESULTS: Both the Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool and the Cardiovascular Self-Evaluation Tool discriminated between experienced/inexperienced and Advanced Cardiac Life Support-certified/noncertified critical care nurses. The computerized clinical simulations discriminated according to Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification, but not between experienced and inexperienced critical care nurses. The computerized clinical simulations identified more specific learning needs than did the Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool or Cardiovascular Self-Evaluation Tool. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence for discriminant validity, adequate internal consistency reliability, and ease of administration supports the continued use of these two tools as methods for critical care staff development needs assessment and evaluation. In addition, the study findings support the use of computerized clinical simulations as an adjunct to other needs assessment and evaluation methods in nursing staff development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaio Huang ◽  
An Chiu ◽  
Po Chao ◽  
Ni Wang

Due to the rise in environmental awareness, corporate companies have shifted their focus from an obsession with short-term profits to contemplating long-term strategies to achieve sustainable management. Effective use of resources is the primary indicator of this achievement. Fulfillment of corporate social responsibility and thinking beyond the regulatory aspects of corporate sustainable management are goals that have continually attracted attention worldwide. Material flow cost accounting based on ISO 14051, which was announced by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is a tool that can be used to achieve a balance between the environment and economy. We focused on using ISO 14051-based material flow cost accounting as an analytical evaluation tool from the perspectives of finance and accounting personnel. We conducted a case study on a flat-panel parts supplier to determine whether the efficient use of recycled glass could reduce company costs. The primary finding is that the film layer on recycled washed glass tends to be stripped during the production process, causing increased reprocessing costs and thus rendering the cost of renewable cleaning higher than that of reworking. This study revealed that the ISO 14051-based material flow cost accounting analysis constitutes a valuable management tool, thereby facilitating the promotion of sustainable development.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S24-S25
Author(s):  
Sarah K Shingleton ◽  
Alexandra J Helms ◽  
Leopoldo C Cancio ◽  
Monica L Abbott ◽  
Corey A Miner

Abstract Introduction New burn intensive care unit (BICU) nurses in the Burn Center complete an evidence-based preceptorship to include standardized wound care education that is reinforced throughout preceptorship. A gap in skill sustainment was identified; factors include lack of a formal sustainment program, inconsistent reinforcement of wound care skills and a perceived decrease in pride in wound care. The purposes of this project are to 1) develop and implement a wound care skill sustainment program 2) re-establish confidence in wound care and 3) improve the quality of wound care delivered in the BICU. Methods A Wound Improvement Project (WIP) committee was formed FEB 2018 consisting 8 BICU nurses; the BICU Nurse Manager and Wound Clinical Nurse Specialist serve as consultants. WIP developed several learning modules and is now developing a wound skill sustainment program and evaluation tool based on the Burn Nurse Competency Initiative (BNCI) standards. BICU staff complete an anonymous survey about wound care confidence every 6 months. WIP mentors and evaluates competency through direct observation during 3 assigned shifts with each BICU nurse. Wound care documentation is audited monthly and a wound care quality audit tool is being developed. Descriptive statistics, student’s T-test, and ANOVA were used. Results The confidence survey was given in Spring 2018 (n=52), Winter 2019 (n=33) and Summer 2019 (n=64); each question showed significant improvement. Notably “how confident would you be doing a full body wound care by yourself with some help turning” improved from 4.12 (±1.17) to 4.64 (±0.65, p=.01). 24 BICU staff have been evaluated with 40 pending completion. No significant difference was found in skill competency between the 3 WIP assigned shifts; however self-evaluation for “how comfortable/confident do you feel advocating for a different type of wound care treatment for your patient” improved from 6.1 (±2.2) to 7.5 (±1.9, p< .0001). Average wound documentation scores improved from 85% in FEB 2018 to 99% in FEB 2019. Conclusions Wound care confidence and documentation have improved since initiation of WIP. Targeted education, bedside tools and workshops have all contributed. There is a positive trend (not significant) towards improved skill competency this is likely due to tool modifications and the small number of staff evaluated to date. Staff feedback has been positive with most staff finding WIP helpful. The long-term goal is to expand WIP to all areas of the Burn Center. Applicability of Research to Practice BNCI standards are a framework for skill sustainment and progression of staff from competent towards proficient and expert. Development and evaluation of nurse-led sustainment programs are needed across the burn community.


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