Linking Evaluation and Program Development

Abstract

Within a research organization such as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), the process of evaluating program performance must often be integrated with a larger research and development agenda. The blending of evaluation and program development (research and development activities undertaken to build expertise and knowledge in a specific programmatic area) can both strengthen the quality of a program and enhance the science of evaluation research. This article describes AHCPR's evaluation strategy and highlights evaluation activitiesfor the agency's clinical practice guideline program. A case study is presented to illustrate the unique methodological challenges in guideline evaluation, the creation of new tools and approaches for evaluating clinical quality, and the benefits of linking evaluation research with program development.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Acute Pain Management Guideline Panel . (1992). Acute pain management: Operative or medical procedures and trauma. Clinical practice guideline (AHCPR Publication No. 92-0032). Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research . (1993). AHCPR program note: Clinical practice guideline development. Rockville, MD: AHCPR, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines . (1990). Clinical practice guidelines: Directions for a new program ( M. J. Field & K. N. Lohr , Eds.). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Magoffin, C. J. , Beavert, C. S. , Hardy, A. M. , Hadley, R. A. , Han, C. , & Banks, N. J. (1995). Using clinical practice guidelines: Building and applying a guideline-based performance measurement system: Vol. 1. Acute postoperative pain and urinary incontinence (AHCPR Publication No. 95-N013, October 1995). Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

McConnell, J. D. , Barry, M. J. , Bruskewitz, R. C. , Beuschen, A. J. , Denton, S. E. , Holtgrewe, H. L. , Lange, J. L. , McClennan, B. L. , Mebus, W. K. , Reilly, N. J. , Roberts, R. G. , Sacks, S. A. , & Wasson, J. H. (1994). Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Diagnosis and treatment. Clinical practice guideline (AHCPR Publication No. 94-0582). Rockville MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, Pub. L. No. 101-239, Tide IX, Public Health Service Act, § 6103 (1989).

Palmer, R. H. , & Banks, N. J. (1995). Designing and testing medical review criteria and performance measures. In S. C. Schoenbaum , D. N. Sundwall , D. Bergman , J. M. Buckle , A. Chernov , J. George , C. Havighurst , M. J. Jurkiewicz , J. T. Kelly , S. Metzler , C. Miaskowski , S.J.W. Romeo , P. M. Schyve , B. Simmons , P. Spath , M. Stevic , C. Winslow , & S. Zatz . (Eds.), Using clinical practice guidelines to evaluate quality of care: Vol. 2. Methods (AHCPR Publication No. 95-0046). Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Urinary Incontinence Guideline Panel . (1992). Urinary incontinence in adults: Clinicalpractice guideline (AHCPR Publication No. 92-0038). Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Vladeck, B. C. (1995). [Statement of Bruce C. Vladeck, Ph.D., Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, March 21, 1995].