An Evaluation of the “What Matters to You” Initiative
Date
2023-08-10
Authors
Tian, Xintong
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Abstract
The purpose of this evaluation is to evaluate the operation and outcomes of the WMTY initiative, identify challenges and successes, and provide enhancements to the project. WMTY is an initiative-based program that advocates for people to practice a WMTY conversation based on respect and attention from healthcare workers for the needs and values of patients, ultimately leading to a cultural shift towards patient- and family-centered care (PFCC). In partnership with health care organizations across the province, BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (BCPSQC) is encouraging providers to have “What matters to you?” conversations each day with the people they support or care for. The main goals of the WMTY initiatives are.
1. To encourage meaningful conversations between patients, caregivers, and family, and their health care providers
2. To encourage distributed leaders and ambassadors within the health care system and patient, family and caregiver partners to seek opportunities to embed WMTY into practice.
3. To encourage health care providers and patient partners to participate in and spread the initiative as they see fit.
4. To create a shift within the health care system around patient and family centred care as an integral part of improving quality of care
WMTY's evaluation questions revolve around the three phases of the WMTY project: 1) planning and engagement, 2) implementation, and 3) outcome. According to the program objectives, six main evaluation questions were delineated.
1. What strategies are being used to promote & spread the WMTY initiative? What worked well? What needs improvement?
2.To what extent was WMTY videos/resources (on website) successful in providing the necessary knowledge, skills to HC providers? To what extent are the training materials/resources adequate?
3.To what extent were the WMTY physical resources successful in WMTY promotion and providing the necessary knowledge, skills to HC providers? Are they adequate?
4.What is the coverage and quality of real practice of WMTY? What are the obstacles and challenges?
5.To what extent has WMTY improved the quality of patient care?
6. What are the successes, challenges, and lessons learned of the initiative? What needs improvement?
In view of the project’s research approach, the evaluation is both summative and formative. After a review of similar evaluation literature, mixed quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted with a pioneering quantitative survey and a subsequent in-depth qualitative interview. In the course of the evaluation, 136 electronic surveys were completed by BCPSQC newsletter subscribers and 9 WMTY partners were interviewed.
The evaluation found that the WMTY initiative met most of the goals, with WMTY’s promotion, support, and implementation activities being successful. The evaluation also summarized the complex challenges facing WMTY and provided recommendations for BCPSQC to further develop the WMTY initiative. Workloads, budget constraints, and other environmental obstacles also suggest that WMTY programs need financial and policy support from health care authorities.
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Keywords
Program Evaluation, What Matters to You, Patient and Family Centered Care