Dementia Day programmes are considered important in supporting the well-being of both people living with dementia and their caregivers. There is, however, limited evidence on the effectiveness of these programmes. This article reports on a study undertaken in New Zealand on the effectiveness of community-based dementia day programmes. The small-scale pilot study was aimed at investigating the elements that make up an effective client-focused dementia day programme and the methods employed by organisations to measure the outcomes of these programmes. A mixed methods approach was employed with multiple stakeholders. The research revealed that effective day programmes comprised five core elements, and that surveys, reporting and auditing processes are routinely used to measure the quality of outcomes of day programmes. Although these findings are reflective of a specific context, it raises concerns about the nature and availability of evidence informing decisions regarding the design and implementation of day programmes internationally.

No abstract

Adequate reproduction of low contrast image detail is essential for accurate diagnosis in diagnostic radiology. Artinis CDRAD and Leeds Test Object TO20 are commercially available test objects that can be used to test this aspect of imaging performance in digital radiography. Automated analysis software is available for both test objects (CDRAD Analyser and AutoPIA (TO20)). This study evaluated and compared both test objects and software, including their sensitivity to changes in exposure parameters and image processing. Images of the test objects were acquired in scatter and scatter-free environments and analysed using a range of metrics derived from automated analysis, visual assessment and manual contrast-to-noise ratio measurements. The CNR (TO20) and correctly identified holes (%) (CDRAD) were found to be the most sensitive to changes in exposure conditions. The total number of detected discs (TO20) was the least sensitive. None of the image quality metrics was sensitive to a change in image processing. Other methods, such as anthropomorphic phantoms, would therefore be required to evaluate changes in clinical image processing. The results of this investigation help to inform best use of these test objects in routine quality control and image quality benchmarking for optimisation.

This article is drawn from the personal experience of two evaluators working in a post-disaster context. While the evaluators, also the authors of this article, were both experienced in a range of evaluation settings, they found that little in the evaluation literature prepared for them for working in such a physically exhausting and emotionally draining context. The article is set out in three parts. First, the authors synthesise the literature on evaluating in disaster and other traumatic contexts. Secondly, they outline the evaluation they undertook for The Salvation Army in the wake of the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes. Finally, the authors reflect on their experiences by discussing the evaluation context, design, ethics , implementation and outcomes in order to add to our growing understanding of evaluating in traumatic contexts.

Developing evaluation capacity with non-government organisations (NGOs) in New Zealand is in vogue, with funders increasingly keen to demonstrate that their investments in social-service programmes are outcomes-focused and providers keen to demonstrate the difference they are making. This article presents a case study of how a large philanthropic trust, focused on family social health and wellbeing, engaged with their grant recipients to improve both outcome-focused evaluation practices and their own evaluation of grants. Partnering with a community funding broker and a research company, the Trust enabled an evaluation capacity-building programme, Dancing with Data. This programme was conducted as three distinct workshops several months apart, with 34 grant recipients ranging from small to large NGOs. Through this initiative, these agencies have developed an evaluation framework focused on the value and cumulative impact of funded projects. An evaluation of this programme with participants and key stakeholders highlighted the challenges and benefits of such a collaborative approach to developing the skills and knowledge needed to commission or undertake effective outcome-focused evaluations.