title: Conceptual framework for development of comprehensive e-health evaluation tool.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to develop an e-health evaluation tool based on a conceptual framework including relevant theories for evaluating use of technology in health programs. This article presents the development of an evaluation framework for e-health programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was divided into three stages: Stage 1 involved a detailed literature search of different theories and concepts on evaluation of e-health, Stage 2 plotted e-health theories to identify relevant themes, and Stage 3 developed a matrix of evaluation themes and stages of e-health programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The framework identifies and defines different stages of e-health programs and then applies evaluation theories to each of these stages for development of the evaluation tool. This framework builds on existing theories of health and technology evaluation and presents a conceptual framework for developing an e-health evaluation tool to examine and measure different factors that play a definite role in the success of e-health programs. The framework on the horizontal axis divides e-health into different stages of program implementation, while the vertical axis identifies different themes and areas of consideration for e-health evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The framework helps understand various aspects of e-health programs and their impact that require evaluation at different stages of the life cycle. The study led to the development of a new and comprehensive e-health evaluation tool, named the Khoja-Durrani-Scott Framework for e-Health Evaluation.
authors.affiliation: AKDN e-Health Resource Centre, The Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya. shariq.khoja@aku.edu
authors.forename: Shariq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khoja
authors.forename: Hammad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Durrani
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Afroz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sajwani
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Piryani
mesh_terms: D003210:Concept Formation; D010154:Pakistan; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D017216:Telemedicine