Assignment : Application: Evaluation Project

Part : Evaluation Methodology

The expression "easier said than done" can describe the challenges nurses face when actually implementing an evaluation. Throughout their planning and research efforts, nurses may identify a variety of ways to evaluate the implementation and use of a new HIT system; however, without a well-stipulated evaluation methodology plan detailing how the evaluation will actually occur, meaningful results will not be obtained. The gap between thinking about an evaluation and actually applying it can be quite large.

A thoughtfully developed evaluation methodology plan helps close this gap by providing a blueprint for conducting an evidence-based evaluation. The methodology elaborates on specific steps, time frames, methods and responsibilities necessary to successfully translate the plan into practice. Nurse informaticists must take the time to generate evaluation methodologies that reflect accurate research designs and that promote data collection and data analysis.

In this part of your Evaluation Project, you determine the evaluation methodology necessary for answering your PICO question. In your methodology, you identify a research design and data collection and analysis methods.

To prepare:

Review your PICO question. Does implementing a new unified acute and ambulatory Electronic Health Record (EHR) system within the hospital, compared to when they are not used improve the quality of healthcare for the patients through documentation?

Consider the goal and viewpoint you developed for your Evaluation Project. Reflect on the types of information you would need to fulfill the goal and answer the PICO question. Think about the "who," "what," "when," "where," and "how" of your evaluation. This is where you determine the specific details of your evaluation, such as the number of people involved, the time frame for conducting the evaluation, the types of information you hope to gather, and how you will obtain the data.

Reflect on the research design that would be most appropriate for answering the PICO question you developed. Common options include experimental designs, quasi-experimental designs, and surveys. Consider how you could effectively measure the success of your evaluation and how you would present your results.

To complete Part 4 of this Evaluation Project:

In a 2- to 3-page paper, in APA format and a minimum of 3 references

1) Describe the evaluation methodology plan you would use to answer your PICO question. Specify which research design, information sources, and data collection methods you would use.

2) Write a paragraph detailing the "who," "what," "when," "where," and "how" of your evaluation.

3) Identify the types of analyses you would perform on the gathered data. Justify your selections.

4) Explain the specifics of how you would measure success in your evaluation and how you would summarize your results.

P.S. Include an introduction ending a purpose statement and a summary

Required Readings

Friedman, C. P., & Wyatt, J. C. (2010). Evaluation methods in biomedical informatics (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

Chapter 4, "The Structure of Objectivist Studies" (pp. 85-112)

This chapter examines the key concepts in relation to the design of studies and the measurement of results. It includes definitions for fundamental terms, a discussion on the levels of measurement, and a description of the different types of study designs.