title: The role of thematic evaluation in program assessment: the case of the Community Clinical Oncology Program.
abstract: The evaluation of programs with multiple, and potentially conflicting, goals requires the integration of measures of goal achievement that often are not easily combined. One approach is the development of analytical themes which span the various goals of a particular program. The themes provide a mechanism by which the policy concerns of individuals with varying perspectives can be integrated into the evaluation framework. As well, the themes allow for flexibility in the development of new analysis as the program matures and environments change. This paper describes the application of the thematic approach to the evaluation of a complex, community-oriented cancer research program.
authors.affiliation: Quintiles Transnational Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3979.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gillings
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ricketts
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barnsley
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kaluzny
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Warnecke
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sondik
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D009657:North Carolina; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States