Evaluating complex interventions: The case of the Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Program — YRD

Evaluating complex interventions: The case of the Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Program (#13)

Patsy Yates 1
  1. Queensland University of Technology , Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, supported by the Movember Foundation, has implemented a program to trial Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses in various locations throughout metropolitan and regional Australia. The program incorporates a robust evaluation process to identify outcomes from the program and provide data to promote sustainability of the role. As a complex health system intervention with several interacting components, an evaluation design has been selected that draws on the UK Medical Research Council principles for evaluating complex interventions. A program logic framework is used to enable the range of stakeholders involved in the process to create a shared understanding of the Program. A pre-post cohort design was selected to provide a comparison group and increase confidence that any change following introduction of the program can be attributed to the program. The evaluation uses multiple data sources (interview, survey and service related data) to assess the inputs, outputs and outcomes of the Prostate Cancer Nurse Specialists, as defined in the program logic framework. These data are obtained from consumers, carers, health service providers, prostate cancer nurse specialists, service managers, and health service records. The primary outcomes of interest include patient reported outcomes. A health economic analysis of the intervention has also been incorporated into the design.