Practice guidelines for program evaluation in community-based rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose: This paper proposes practice guidelines to evaluate community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programs.Method: These were developed through a rigorous three-phase research process including a literature review on good practices in CBR program evaluation, a field study during which a South Africa CBR program was evaluated, and a Delphi study to generate consensus among a highly credible panel of CBR experts from a wide range of backgrounds and geographical areas.Results: The 10 guidelines developed are summarized into a practice model highlighting key features of sound CBR program evaluation. They strongly indicate that sound CBR evaluations are those that give a voice and as much control as possible to the most affected groups, embrace the challenge of diversity, and foster use of evaluation processes and findings through a rigorous, collaborative and empowering approach.Conclusions: The practice guidelines should facilitate CBR evaluation decisions in respect to facilitating an evaluation process, using frameworks and designing methods.Implications for rehabilitationTen practice guidelines provide guidance to facilitate sound community-based rehabilitation (CBR) program evaluation decisions. Key indications of good practice include:• being as participatory and empowering as possible;• ensuring that all, including the most affected, have a real opportunity to share their thoughts;• highly considering mixed methods and participatory tools;• adapting to fit evaluation context, local culture and language(s);• defining evaluation questions and reporting findings using shared CBR language when possible, which the framework offered may facilitate.