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Integrating service development with evaluation in telehealthcare: an ethnographic study.

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Integrating service development with evaluation in telehealthcare: an ethnographic study. / Finch, Tracy; May, Carl; Mair, Frances et al.
In: BMJ, Vol. 327, No. 7425, 22.11.2003, p. 1205-1209.

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Finch T, May C, Mair F, Mort M, Gask L. Integrating service development with evaluation in telehealthcare: an ethnographic study. BMJ. 2003 Nov 22;327(7425):1205-1209. doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7425.1205

Author

Finch, Tracy ; May, Carl ; Mair, Frances et al. / Integrating service development with evaluation in telehealthcare: an ethnographic study. In: BMJ. 2003 ; Vol. 327, No. 7425. pp. 1205-1209.

Bibtex

@article{f984481ecb2043c7818beeae9c0b7e03,
title = "Integrating service development with evaluation in telehealthcare: an ethnographic study.",
abstract = "Objectives To identify issues that facilitate the successful integration of evaluation and development of telehealthcare services. Design Ethnographic study using various qualitative research techniques to obtain data from several sources, including in-depth semistructured interviews, project steering group meetings, and public telehealthcare meetings. Setting Seven telehealthcare evaluation projects (four randomised controlled trials and three pragmatic service evaluations) in the United Kingdom, studied over two years. Projects spanned a range of specialties—dermatology, psychiatry, respiratory medicine, cardiology, and oncology. Participants Clinicians, managers, technical experts, and researchers involved in the projects. Results and discussion Key problems in successfully integrating evaluation and service development in telehealthcare are, firstly, defining existing clinical practices (and anticipating changes) in ways that permit measurement; secondly, managing additional workload and conflicting responsibilities brought about by combining clinical and research responsibilities (including managing risk); and, thirdly, understanding various perspectives on effectiveness and the limitations of evaluation results beyond the context of the research study. Conclusions Combined implementation and evaluation of telehealthcare systems is complex, and is often underestimated. The distinction between quantitative outcomes and the workability of the system is important for producing evaluative knowledge that is of practical value. More pragmatic approaches to evaluation, that permit both quantitative and qualitative methods, are required to improve the quality of such research and its relevance for service provision in the NHS.",
author = "Tracy Finch and Carl May and Frances Mair and Maggie Mort and Linda Gask",
year = "2003",
month = nov,
day = "22",
doi = "10.1136/bmj.327.7425.1205",
language = "English",
volume = "327",
pages = "1205--1209",
journal = "BMJ",
issn = "0959-8138",
publisher = "British Medical Association",
number = "7425",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Integrating service development with evaluation in telehealthcare: an ethnographic study.

AU - Finch, Tracy

AU - May, Carl

AU - Mair, Frances

AU - Mort, Maggie

AU - Gask, Linda

PY - 2003/11/22

Y1 - 2003/11/22

N2 - Objectives To identify issues that facilitate the successful integration of evaluation and development of telehealthcare services. Design Ethnographic study using various qualitative research techniques to obtain data from several sources, including in-depth semistructured interviews, project steering group meetings, and public telehealthcare meetings. Setting Seven telehealthcare evaluation projects (four randomised controlled trials and three pragmatic service evaluations) in the United Kingdom, studied over two years. Projects spanned a range of specialties—dermatology, psychiatry, respiratory medicine, cardiology, and oncology. Participants Clinicians, managers, technical experts, and researchers involved in the projects. Results and discussion Key problems in successfully integrating evaluation and service development in telehealthcare are, firstly, defining existing clinical practices (and anticipating changes) in ways that permit measurement; secondly, managing additional workload and conflicting responsibilities brought about by combining clinical and research responsibilities (including managing risk); and, thirdly, understanding various perspectives on effectiveness and the limitations of evaluation results beyond the context of the research study. Conclusions Combined implementation and evaluation of telehealthcare systems is complex, and is often underestimated. The distinction between quantitative outcomes and the workability of the system is important for producing evaluative knowledge that is of practical value. More pragmatic approaches to evaluation, that permit both quantitative and qualitative methods, are required to improve the quality of such research and its relevance for service provision in the NHS.

AB - Objectives To identify issues that facilitate the successful integration of evaluation and development of telehealthcare services. Design Ethnographic study using various qualitative research techniques to obtain data from several sources, including in-depth semistructured interviews, project steering group meetings, and public telehealthcare meetings. Setting Seven telehealthcare evaluation projects (four randomised controlled trials and three pragmatic service evaluations) in the United Kingdom, studied over two years. Projects spanned a range of specialties—dermatology, psychiatry, respiratory medicine, cardiology, and oncology. Participants Clinicians, managers, technical experts, and researchers involved in the projects. Results and discussion Key problems in successfully integrating evaluation and service development in telehealthcare are, firstly, defining existing clinical practices (and anticipating changes) in ways that permit measurement; secondly, managing additional workload and conflicting responsibilities brought about by combining clinical and research responsibilities (including managing risk); and, thirdly, understanding various perspectives on effectiveness and the limitations of evaluation results beyond the context of the research study. Conclusions Combined implementation and evaluation of telehealthcare systems is complex, and is often underestimated. The distinction between quantitative outcomes and the workability of the system is important for producing evaluative knowledge that is of practical value. More pragmatic approaches to evaluation, that permit both quantitative and qualitative methods, are required to improve the quality of such research and its relevance for service provision in the NHS.

U2 - 10.1136/bmj.327.7425.1205

DO - 10.1136/bmj.327.7425.1205

M3 - Journal article

VL - 327

SP - 1205

EP - 1209

JO - BMJ

JF - BMJ

SN - 0959-8138

IS - 7425

ER -