Evaluation & Research

Evaluation is a process that includes engaging stakeholders, assessing information needs of the organization, developing a realistic and feasible evaluation plan, and providing adequate resources to conduct evaluation.

Since 1996, SEARCH Canada has extensively evaluated the learning program for quality, value and impact, from the perspectives of participants, sponsoring organizations and faculty. Generally, these studies indicate that over 10 years individuals and organizations have consistently found value in the learning modules and believe that the development of the network is important and sound. Benefits are most closely related to increased access to research resources, improved research skills, and development of staff.

On the whole, it seems that projects conducted through SEARCH Classic and Custom relate to improvements in patient care, changes in practitioner behaviours, or improved health service delivery decisions, but further study of these areas is warranted.

Consultations with partner organizations have complemented formal external evaluations. In preparation for a December 2006 mid-point progress review by an expert panel review, additional surveys and evaluations are being conducted. These studies will assess the organizational impact of SEARCH Canada, the kind of collaborative engagement evident in the SEARCH Network, and qualitative case incident studies or particular participants. These studies, plus interviews with each health region, will help the panel assess the progress, challenges, issues and future direction of SEARCH Canada programs

Going forward, SEARCH Canada is focused on four impact areas that are key to the successful mission of the organization. These areas are generally addressed through the ongoing programs represented in the following chart.

Program Impact Areas Being Measured by SEARCH Canada

Impact areas	Individual in the organization	Health service delivery organization	Academic relationships and structures	Integrating across sectors
Program activities	Training Collaborative Network Consulting Information Services Knowledge Asset Development
Strategic objectives	Increase Evidence Use Develop Collaborative Networks Disseminate Research Knowledge Promote Policy-Responsive Research Contribute New Knowledge
SEARCH management	“What are you committed to achieving?” and “How would you know you achieved it?”

Identifying tangible measures and outcomes that relate directly to the SEARCH programs is difficult. However, since 1996, the expansion of knowledge translation activity in Alberta has been increasingly evident in:

The number of research positions hired by health regions
The new emphasis by Alberta Health and Wellness in promoting a research agenda across the province, and
The promotion of research in both urban and rural regions.

Efforts such as these are spread across the provincial, regional and local networks and though they are not in themselves the result of the SEARCH program, the organization has been recognized for its important role as a thought leader and catalyst.

Research

SEARCH Canada’s strategic objectives, “Disseminate Research Knowledge” and “Contribute New Knowledge” demonstrate the organization’s responsiveness to the health system and the research priorities of its stakeholders. SEARCH Canada has always contributed to this area in a broad sense, through its programs training health professionals, by developing collaborative networks and by providing information supports. The explicit strategic objective; however, recognizes that in addition to a general research contribution, SEARCH also has a particular focus, evident through a range of products, best perceived through a lens of “knowledge in action”.