ECHO activities: Multi-site Evaluation
In collaboration with the SPNS sites, the Center will conduct a multi-site evaluation, working with the sites to collect data to answer key research questions (identified below).
Multi-site data will be collected to measure outcomes including; increased access to oral health care, patient outcomes and program implementation processes, strategies to overcome reimbursement obstacles, provider and patient education training outcomes, and lessons learned that will be useful for a broader audience.
The Center will also describe the process of implementation of the grantees’ interventions with a focus on clinical, programmatic and structural issues addressed by the demonstration sites. Focused evaluation studies involving sub-groups of demonstration sites will also be conducted.
Study Questions:
- Do the demonstration programs increase access to oral health care for the target population?
- What are the main similarities and differences in strategies and program models to increase access to oral health care across programs?
- Are the oral health services performed in accordance with professional practice guidelines?
- Do clients experience improvements in health outcomes over time?
- Are clients’ oral health care needs met?
- Do clients experience improvements in oral health related quality of life after enrollment in oral health care?
- What strategies are most effective in furthering successful program implementation: barriers, facilitators, key lessons learned?
- What strategies to address the structural, policy and financing issues can be replicated in other settings?