title: Evaluating Canada's Compassionate Care Benefit using a utilization-focused evaluation framework: successful strategies and prerequisite conditions.
abstract: A utilization-focused evaluation (Patton, 1997) framework was used in 2004-2005 to conduct a pilot evaluation of Canada's newly unveiled Compassionate Care Benefit from a family caregivers' perspective. This paper presents a description of the successful utilization-focused evaluation process. Successful strategies are summarized in three main categories: (1) motivated leadership; (2) regular, planned communication; and (3) consistent and continued commitment of all parties involved. Three main prerequisite conditions for success were found to include: (a) have in place a widely representative Evaluation Taskforce with as many, if not all, key stakeholders represented; (b) have the program of concern and the focus of the evaluation flexible enough to actually accommodate change; and (c) adhere to a pre-determined timeline.
authors.affiliation: School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. awill@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics*; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013727:Terminal Care