Gamified,Flexible,and Creative Tools for Evaluating a Support Program for Palliative Children and Their Families

Abstract

This article explores the innovative evaluation methods developed for Starlight Children’s Foundation’s palliative care program, Moments. This approach focuses on capturing feedback from children and families in a flexible, creative manner while minimising evaluation burden. A review of the literature revealed an absence of standardised tools for evaluating programs in palliative care, especially those involving children. However, research shows that participatory and child-friendly evaluation techniques enhance engagement and provide valuable insights into program impact, amplifying children’s voices in a context where they are often underrepresented. In response, Starlight developed novel gamified evaluation activity books and worksheets tailored to various developmental stages, enabling children to share their feedback in a playful, meaningful way that aligns with the program’s nature. Based on our work, we recommend (a) using gamified and participatory methods that actively involve children; (b) creating multiple formats suited to different ages using plain language; (c) applying opt-in recruitment while being mindful of timing; (d) offering clear, flexible participation options such as explainer videos and both digital and physical submissions; and (e) maintaining rigorous ethical standards. These findings add to broader research on program evaluation and highlight the importance of prioritising children’s perspectives, even in sensitive care contexts.