Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare
Abstract Effective efforts to strengthen health systems need diverse, multi-stakeholder networks working together on complex or ‘wicked’ problems such as prevention and control of chronic diseases, solutions to which go beyond the role and capability of one organisation. The contextual complexities...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-020-00562-4 |
| _version_ | 1819103879193690112 |
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| author | Jodie Bailie Alison Frances Laycock David Peiris Roxanne Gwendalyn Bainbridge Veronica Matthews Frances Clare Cunningham Kathleen Parker Conte Seye Abimbola Megan Elizabeth Passey Ross Stewart Bailie |
| author_facet | Jodie Bailie Alison Frances Laycock David Peiris Roxanne Gwendalyn Bainbridge Veronica Matthews Frances Clare Cunningham Kathleen Parker Conte Seye Abimbola Megan Elizabeth Passey Ross Stewart Bailie |
| author_sort | Jodie Bailie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Effective efforts to strengthen health systems need diverse, multi-stakeholder networks working together on complex or ‘wicked’ problems such as prevention and control of chronic diseases, solutions to which go beyond the role and capability of one organisation. The contextual complexities inherent in ‘wicked’ problems mean that solutions warrant a systems approach that encompasses innovation and new ways of thinking about, facilitating and implementing collective decision-making processes and change practices. Innovation platforms are a mechanism for facilitating communication and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, promoting joint action and stimulating innovation. Developmental evaluation is an approach that is increasingly being used to evaluate innovative and emergent programmes and projects, as it enables evaluators to provide real-time feedback so that evaluation findings can be used to guide development and adaptations. Developmental evaluation emphasises learning and adaptation, and aligns well with the implementation of innovation platforms that have continuous reflection, learning and adaptation as a specific design principle. Here, we outline our rationale for applying a developmental evaluation to enhance the formation, functioning and outcomes of an innovation platform aimed at accelerating and strengthening large-scale quality improvement efforts in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare. We provide examples to explain how the developmental evaluation findings were used for adaptation of the innovation platform and assess to what extent our application of developmental evaluation was consistent with, and reflective of, its essential principles. Our evaluation aligned strongly with the principles of developmental evaluation, and the approach we took was well suited to situations with a developmental purpose, innovation niche and complexity such as innovation platforms. As a result, along with the increasing interest in multi-stakeholder platforms (e.g. innovation platforms) and the inherent challenges with evaluating these complex networks, we anticipate our use of this approach being of interest globally. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:57:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bcfa3375ac2a4677bd856837cd3e53b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-4505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:57:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-bcfa3375ac2a4677bd856837cd3e53b72022-12-21T18:42:44ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052020-05-0118111110.1186/s12961-020-00562-4Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcareJodie Bailie0Alison Frances Laycock1David Peiris2Roxanne Gwendalyn Bainbridge3Veronica Matthews4Frances Clare Cunningham5Kathleen Parker Conte6Seye Abimbola7Megan Elizabeth Passey8Ross Stewart Bailie9The University Centre for Rural Health, The University of SydneyThe University Centre for Rural Health, The University of SydneyThe School of Public Health, The University of SydneyCentre for Indigenous Health Equity Research, Central Queensland UniversityThe University Centre for Rural Health, The University of SydneyMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityThe University Centre for Rural Health, The University of SydneyThe School of Public Health, The University of SydneyThe University Centre for Rural Health, The University of SydneyThe University Centre for Rural Health, The University of SydneyAbstract Effective efforts to strengthen health systems need diverse, multi-stakeholder networks working together on complex or ‘wicked’ problems such as prevention and control of chronic diseases, solutions to which go beyond the role and capability of one organisation. The contextual complexities inherent in ‘wicked’ problems mean that solutions warrant a systems approach that encompasses innovation and new ways of thinking about, facilitating and implementing collective decision-making processes and change practices. Innovation platforms are a mechanism for facilitating communication and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, promoting joint action and stimulating innovation. Developmental evaluation is an approach that is increasingly being used to evaluate innovative and emergent programmes and projects, as it enables evaluators to provide real-time feedback so that evaluation findings can be used to guide development and adaptations. Developmental evaluation emphasises learning and adaptation, and aligns well with the implementation of innovation platforms that have continuous reflection, learning and adaptation as a specific design principle. Here, we outline our rationale for applying a developmental evaluation to enhance the formation, functioning and outcomes of an innovation platform aimed at accelerating and strengthening large-scale quality improvement efforts in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare. We provide examples to explain how the developmental evaluation findings were used for adaptation of the innovation platform and assess to what extent our application of developmental evaluation was consistent with, and reflective of, its essential principles. Our evaluation aligned strongly with the principles of developmental evaluation, and the approach we took was well suited to situations with a developmental purpose, innovation niche and complexity such as innovation platforms. As a result, along with the increasing interest in multi-stakeholder platforms (e.g. innovation platforms) and the inherent challenges with evaluating these complex networks, we anticipate our use of this approach being of interest globally.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-020-00562-4Developmental evaluationinnovation platformsIndigenous healthcontinuous quality improvementinnovationhealth systems strengthening |
| spellingShingle | Jodie Bailie Alison Frances Laycock David Peiris Roxanne Gwendalyn Bainbridge Veronica Matthews Frances Clare Cunningham Kathleen Parker Conte Seye Abimbola Megan Elizabeth Passey Ross Stewart Bailie Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare Health Research Policy and Systems Developmental evaluation innovation platforms Indigenous health continuous quality improvement innovation health systems strengthening |
| title | Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare |
| title_full | Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare |
| title_fullStr | Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare |
| title_short | Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare |
| title_sort | using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in australian indigenous primary healthcare |
| topic | Developmental evaluation innovation platforms Indigenous health continuous quality improvement innovation health systems strengthening |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-020-00562-4 |
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