title: Online evaluation programs: benefits and limitations.
abstract: Patient navigation programs are increasing throughout the USA, yet some evaluation measures are too vague to determine what and how navigation functions. Through collaborative efforts an online evaluation program was developed. The goal of this evaluation program is to make data entry accurate, simple, and efficient. This comprehensive program includes major components on staff, mentoring, committees, partnerships, grants/studies, products, dissemination, patient navigation, and reports. Pull down menus, radio buttons, and check boxes are incorporated whenever possible. Although the program has limitations, the benefits of having access to current, up-to-date program data 24/7 are worth overcoming the challenges. Of major benefit is the ability of the staff to tailor summary reports to provide anonymous feedback in a timely manner to community partners and participants. The tailored data are useful for the partners to generate summaries for inclusion in new grant applications.
authors.affiliation: Native American Cancer Research Corporation (NACR), 3022 South Nova Road, Pine, CO 80470-7830, USA. LindaB@NatAmCancer.net
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burhansstipanov
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe-Galloway
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Petereit
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eschiti
authors.forename: Linda U
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: Noel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Pingatore
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009862:Online Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology