Project Evaluation Research Articles

Impact of a community-based participatory research project with underserved communities at risk for hepatitis C virus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: an evaluation study

BackgroundParticipatory approaches have become a widely applied research approach. Despite their popularity, there are many challenges associated with the evaluation of participatory projects. Here we describe an evaluation of a community-based participatory research study of underserved communities in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam at risk for hepatitis C virus. The goals of our evaluation were to explore the main benefits and challenges of implementing and participating in a participatory study and to describe study impacts.MethodsWe conducted two meetings with leaders and members of the participating groups followed by in-depth interviews with 10 participants. We then held a dissemination meeting with over 70 participants, including the representatives of each group, researchers from non-governmental organizations (community-based, national and international), and govenrment officials from the Vietnam Ministry of Health and the Department of Health of HCMC.ResultsResults include four categories where we describe first the participatory impacts, followed by the collaborative impacts. Then we describe the benefits and challenges of creating and belonging to one of the groups, from members’ and leaders’ points of view. Finally, we describe the key suggestions that participants provided for future research.ConclusionIn conclusion, the evaluation approach led to both a research reflection on the ‘success’ of the project and enabled participants themselves to reflect on the outcomes and benefits of the study from their point of view.

International English Teaching Planning and Evaluation of Renewable Energy Application Projects from Perspective of Sustainability

The application of renewable energy has positively contributed to the Eco-city by alleviating energy tension, improving energy structure, enhancing energy utilization efficiency, and building a resource-saving and environment-friendly society. At the same time, several demonstration projects with advanced and applicable technology, stable and reliable operation, and high promotion value have been completed, and a relatively complete system of regulations, policies, technical standards, application modes, and capacity building for the application of renewable energy buildings has been initially formed. This study analyzes the current global demand for renewable energy and education status quo and proposes a set of teaching programs combined with practical applications. In response to the needs, a comprehensive framework integrating theoretical teaching, hands-on practice, rigorous program evaluation, and dynamic feedback loops is designed to cultivate students' global perspectives and emphasize the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and international cooperation. The implementation results showed a significant improvement in the students' understanding of renewable energy, with a 40% improvement at the end of the class. As a result of the IEP implementation, 85% of the students targeting the Renewable Energy Applications Program have achieved the expected teaching objectives in terms of energy and environmental policy comprehension, renewable energy technology mastery, and intercultural communication skills, which is a 30% improvement from the pre-implementation period. In addition, there has been a significant increase in international exchanges between students, contributing to creating a more holistic approach to sustainable development.

Creating a data collection and management platform to support measurement of adolescent HIV care transition processes within low- and middle-income countries: The GRADUATE project.

Few national programs and research cohorts within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) document transition-related processes and outcomes for adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYLH) transitioning to adulthood. Between 2017-2020, The Global fRAmework of Data collection Used for Adolescent HIV Transition Evaluation (GRADUATE) project convened a collaborative advisory group to identify key variables and definitions capturing the process, predictors, and outcomes across the transition period. In total, 114 variables identified as essential to measuring AYLH transition-related data were identified and formatted into a GRADUATE Data Exchange Standard (DES), which was added to and harmonized with the existing International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) DES. In 2019, the GRADUATE DES was pilot tested at four IeDEA facilities in Malawi, South Africa, and Thailand through a cross-sectional study. Upon comparing the variables to routine medical records, available data were too limited to adequately capture transition-related processes and outcomes. However, additional data collection using GRADUATE tools was feasible and improved completeness. Of the 100 (52% female) AYLH included in the pilot study, 71% had transitioned/transferred to adult care, with 42% transitioning from an adolescent-specific model of care within an integrated family clinic to having their clinic visits scheduled on a different day of the week while 58% transferred from a pediatric facility to one offering adult HIV care. While almost all (94%) had a transition-related discussion with their healthcare providers prior to the transition, we found that 69% (95% CI 49-85%) were somewhat or very satisfied/comfortable with the post-transfer clinic and the staff. Utilization of the GRADUATE DES better characterized AYLH transitioning to adulthood across LMICs, and optimally measured transition preparation activities and outcomes. Utilization of the GRADUATE DES in other settings could facilitate comparisons and identify gaps in the care of transitioning adolescents that need to be addressed.

Introducing comprehensive sexuality education in Italian schools: from the co-construction to the evaluation of a pilot intervention

IntroductionSchool-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a powerful tool that provides young people with information on all aspects of sexuality and is aimed at protecting their sexual and reproductive health and well-being throughout their lives. Currently, CSE is not integrated within the schools’ curriculum in Italy. This study describes the co-construction, implementation, and evaluation of a CSE project piloted among students attending lower secondary schools, in four regions of Italy. Evidence-based evaluation will be helpful in promote the inclusion of CSE programs in the Italian schools’ curriculum.MethodsThe pilot scheme was co-constructed by a multidisciplinary curriculum development group through a Delphi process, including educators who conducted the activities. The evaluation followed three directions: the program (based on a literature review of CSE principles and recommended characteristics), implementation (assessing the execution of the program through the analysis of the reflection tools used by the educators), and short-term outcomes (assessing critical thinking and conscious behavioural choices through pre-post and satisfaction surveys).ResultsThe main goal, learning modules and content were defined and structured in five interventions with the students, and two with families and teachers. A total of 638 students were involved in the activity, across 11 schools. Data analysis of pre/post surveys reported a significant increase in knowledge in 12 of the 15 items investigated (p < 0.05), and a high level of satisfaction with the topics addressed. Qualitative analysis added information on the pivotal role of educators in CSE.ConclusionsThe national piloting of this educational activity provided positive insights regarding the co-construction, implementation and short-outcome evaluation, suggesting potential for scalability and future inclusion of CSE in the curricula of Italian schools.

Midwifery experiences in rural Southern Aotearoa New Zealand: insights into pre-eclampsia management

aim: This study investigated the experiences of rural midwives in the Southern region of Aotearoa New Zealand, focussing on practices and challenges in caring for pregnant individuals displaying signs of pre-eclampsia (PE). method: Conducted as part of the University of Otago’s Trainee Intern Healthcare Evaluation Project, investigating the efficacy of the soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio test, this exploratory study employed qualitative research methods. Twenty-three midwives from nine locations across the Southern region were interviewed by trainee intern doctors (TIs) using a semi-structured interview protocol. Thematic analysis was applied to the data. results: The study highlighted the challenging context of rural midwifery, emphasising diverse working conditions, geographic complexities and the impact of the midwifery shortage. Midwives’ decision making about PE depended on location, experience, scientific evidence, holistic model of care and the constant concern about PE. A model illustrating midwifery decision making in PE management was developed. conclusion: Rural midwives in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Southern region managing PE cases face complex challenges. The model derived from this study illustrates the delicate balance that rural midwives navigate, emphasising the need for strategies to support their practice and preserve Aotearoa New Zealand’s distinctive maternity care model.

The Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies (HTSP) project: improving family planning in Siaya County, Kenya.

Religious leaders are influential and can impact the uptake of family planning (FP). In this study of the Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies (HTSP) project, led in Siaya County, Kenya, from September 2017 to June 2019, we present findings from the project's evaluation, to determine changes in knowledge of the key HTSP messages; changes in the proportion of community members who correctly identify at least three methods of contraception; changes in knowledge of healthy child spacing; and changes in modern contraceptive prevalence rate. This is a two-staged (baseline and endline) cross-sectional study, designed to assess the knowledge, practice, and coverage of HTSP/FP services. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire adapted from the United States Agency for International Development. Focus group discussion participants included men, women, representatives of community groups, faith leaders, and community heath volunteers. Frequencies were calculated from the ODK platform. Bivariate analytics (paired t test) were performed. At baseline, women respondents aged 20-29 years constituted 66.3% of the women participants, dropping to 60.9% at endline. Women aged 30-34 years constituted 11.9% and 22% of the entire women respondents, at baseline and endline, respectively. Men aged 20-29 constituted 45.2% of all men respondents at baseline, and 35.4% at endline. There were statistically significant increases in the knowledge of modern contraceptives among women (p = 0.0342), faith leaders (p = 0.0464), and the entire population (p = 0.0097), from baseline to endline. The HTSP model identifies success factors for FP interventions in Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries where faith leaders and community stakeholders are influential, and that women and faith leaders are much more easily impacted positively with these efforts, as measured by increased knowledge and awareness of modern contraceptive methods, compared with men.

“Every Single Word Is Now a Tempest of Gestures”: Luigi Ballerini's and Beppe Cavatorta's Anthology of Italian Poetry Those Who from Afar Look Like Flies

Abstract This essay is a long review of the anthology of Italian poetry Those Who from Afar Look Like Flies. Beginning with a brief discussion of the editor's extensive introduction and an evaluation and explanation of the overall anthology project, the review essay goes on to explore, in some depth, a selection of the numerous poets who appear in this 2,116-page volume. Among the many poets discussed are Pier Paolo Pasolini, Francesco Leonetti, Alfredo Giuliani, Elio Pagliarani, Antonio Porta, Edoardo Cacciatore, Corrado Costa, Antonio Delfini, Mario Diacono, Amelia Rosselli, Emilio Villa, Andrea Zanzotto, and numerous others. Specific poems are analyzed and contextualized within the larger context of contemporary Italian “Research” poetry.

Structured Online Systematic Review Training for Medical Students: An Elective Module in Physiology.

Background Recently, elective posting has been introduced by the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India in the undergraduate competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum. To successfully implement it in medical colleges, facilitators (medical teachers) need to commit extra time. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of online teaching-learning methods for implementing an elective module for undergraduate medical students at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India. Methods An online module for systematic review methods was developed using the Delphi method. This module was used to train 30 medical students divided into six groups. One resident and one facultyfacilitated each group. After the elective program of 15 days, program feedback and evaluation using the Kirkpatrick model were obtained from the students. Results A total of 30 undergraduate medical students with a mean age of 22.7±0.95 years participated in the study. All of them successfully conducted a systematic review per group. The students' feedback was 86.33% positive, and the project evaluation showed an 84% positive opinion. The highest score was for understanding, facilitators' knowledge, and experience. The lowest score was for the immediate applicability of the knowledge. Conclusion An online systematic review training module can be used for elective teaching-learning for final-year medical students, particularly within limited time and resource constraints. Students appreciated the module's clear objectives, appropriate complexity, and facilitators' expertise, leading to improved communication, engagement, and critical-thinking skills. Despite some limitations, these findings suggest that online learning can complement traditional methods and address logistical challenges in medical education, warranting further research on its long-term impact and broader applicability.

THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC INVESTMENTS FOR EDUCATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN ROMANIA

Through this research we aim to make a brief analysis of how the value of educational investments influences the performance of students in Romania. In order to achieve the proposed goal, it is necessary to analyze some specific indicators to education and compare them with similar data from other countries. To carry out this research, both qualitative and quantitative research methods were applied. Education is an essential factor in economic growth and social development. The educational process has a significant role both in the growth of each individual and of society as a whole, being indispensable for personal development and well-being. Investments in education deliver long-term benefits to citizens, publicly funded institutions and the knowledge-based economy as a whole. Research over the last few decades has shown that investments in education and health are associated with the highest rate of return. It is essential to prioritize public investments with the aim of ensuring the performance standards of educational institutions in Romania, in conditions of security and quality. For this, it is necessary for the school infrastructure to function properly, the constructions to be consolidated, the maintenance costs to be costeffective and to ensure the efficiency of the use of space and resources in order to allow the activities of the users to be carried out in optimal conditions of comfort, health and productivity. Also, human capital is quantitatively analyzed as the first economic resource from the perspective of population evolution. In project evaluation, investment efficiency refers to the most effective, economical and rational way of using the investment resources made available to achieve the expected results.

Enhancing Community Participation in Local Development Projects: The Bangladesh Context

This paper focuses on developing an approach for effective community participation in local development projects. Researchers conducted a field study in Sunamganj district, one of the most vulnerable areas in Bangladesh, and collected information from 54 respondents, including Union Parishads (UP) chairpersons and members, secretaries, committee members, and local beneficiaries through interviews and FGDs using purposive sampling. Researchers also collected relevant documents from the Union Parishad (project plan, evaluation report, and annual progress report) to compare the information obtained from the participants in the field and analyzed them using the thematic analysis method. Study findings revealed that although UP is considered a close-knit community-based organization due to the nature of its development work and geographic location, inclusive decentralization and a democratic environment have not been established at the local level institutions to enhance meaningful community participation in development projects. This deficiency is attributed to outsider interferences, nepotism, lack of knowledge and information, top-down bureaucratic decisions, gender discrimination, and corruption. It is believed that the model of a meaningful decentralized participation system would help mobilize the comprehensive local development process.

EVALUATION OF POST-PROCESSED KINEMATIC ACCURACY IN ENGINEERING PROJECTS

EVALUATION OF POST-PROCESSED KINEMATIC ACCURACY IN ENGINEERING PROJECTS

A Critical Evaluation and Future Projection of Extreme Precipitation Over South Korea in Observation-Based Products and a High-Resolution Model Simulation

A Critical Evaluation and Future Projection of Extreme Precipitation Over South Korea in Observation-Based Products and a High-Resolution Model Simulation

Application and Effectiveness Evaluation of Project - Based Learning in Cruise Dining Service English Courses

Application and Effectiveness Evaluation of Project - Based Learning in Cruise Dining Service English Courses

The Retrospective Implementation of Standardized In Utero HIV Exposure Definitions Using Routinely Collected Public Sector Data Across the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Using the Data Evaluation and Preparation for HIV-Exposed Uninfected Child Cohorts project's standardized child HIV exposure definitions, 64%, 64% and 90% of children exposed to HIV in utero could be classified as HIV-uninfected with moderate or high certainty at the ages of 1 and 3 years and at the time of first infectious disease hospitalization, respectively. These definitions can be applied retrospectively to routine datasets with linked mother-child data.

Characterizing Neurobehavioral Dysregulation Among Former American Football Players: Findings From the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project.

Neurobehavioral dysregulation (NBD), a core clinical feature of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome, encompasses neuropsychiatric symptoms reported among individuals with a history of repetitive head impact exposure, including contact sport athletes. The objective of this study was to examine the construct and subconstructs of NBD through a series of factor and cluster analyses. Six clinician-scientists selected self-report questionnaire items relevant to NBD from seven available neuropsychiatric scales through a blinded voting process. These items were subjected to confirmatory factor analyses in a sample of 178 former college and professional American football players and 60 asymptomatic individuals without a history of repetitive head impact exposure. All participants were enrolled in the Diagnostics, Imaging, and Genetics Network for the Objective Study and Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Research Project. Factor scores were generated on the basis of the optimal expert-informed model for NBD. Construct validity was assessed with neuropsychiatric scales not included in generation of the factor scores. Cluster analyses with NBD factor scores were used to examine symptom profiles. Factor analyses confirmed that NBD was composed of four subconstructs: explosivity, emotional dyscontrol, impulsivity, and affective lability. Cluster analyses indicated four distinct symptom profiles of NBD in this group of former football players: asymptomatic (N=80, 45%), short fuse (N=33, 19%), high affective lability (N=34, 19%), and high NBD (N=31, 17%). These findings characterize NBD as a multifaceted clinical construct with a heterogeneous presentation, providing a foundation for empirical work on the diagnostic criteria for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome and research on the neurobiological underpinnings of NBD.

Research on Comprehensive Performance Evaluation Method for Frontier Fundamental Research Project for Future Aircraft Engines

The evaluation and management of frontier fundamental research projects for future advanced aircraft engines are challenging due to the need to balance assessing the innovative potential and technical risks with considering their long-term effects and inherent uncertainties. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation indicator system for evaluating frontier fundamental research projects for future advanced aircraft engines, integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) to balance innovative potential with technical risks. The AHP is used to determine weights for the evaluation indicator system based on a survey of technical experts. By incorporating expert ratings and weighted criteria, the FCE method synthesizes comprehensive evaluations and effectively avoids traditional scoring biases and simplistic averaging methods. A case study on a major project is conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in highlighting the significant achievements and potential for innovation gaps. The results show that the AHP-FCE method proves robust in identifying complex, prospective research, providing a strategic tool for policymakers to prioritize impactful aircraft engine research and ensuring investment in projects with significant breakthrough potential.

A Participatory Evaluation of an Urban Garden Project in Ecuador: Exploring Factors That Impact the Recovery of People With Severe Mental Health Problems.

For the past years, Ecuador has been transitioning away from a hospital-based model of mental healthcare to one that is community-centred. However, challenges associated with hospital-based models endure, notably financial burden faced by those with severe mental health problems (SMHPs) due to labour market discrimination. Employment access for this group is often disregarded in policy planning, despite evidence of its benefits on mental health. Huertomanías, an urban garden initiative in Ecuador founded in 2015, works with individuals with SMHPs, providing work, income, and social inclusion. A case study using a participatory approach was carried out to explore factors that impact the recovery of people with SMHPs. Twelve participants engaged in diverse stages of the research, where several participatory activities were conducted including cognitive mapping, a photovoice project, and interviews. The analysis employed a thematic approach leading to four categories of impact within the urban garden: autonomy (financial and personal), interpersonal relations and relation with the environment, mental health, and family dynamics. A final category of impact was established encompassing external factors (family support and public policy and healthcare services) that influence recovery. Findings suggest that the urban garden promotes autonomy and active participation within society, improves mental health, and transforms family dynamics. Further, this study highlights the importance of community-based mental healthcare (CBMHC), emphasising the need of public policies and healthcare in promoting autonomy through employment and community-centred services. Lastly, the study contributes insights into recovery experiences and CBMHC benefits, informing programme development and similar initiatives in Latin America.

Ex-Ante Evaluation and Implementation of Science, Technology and Innovation Projects

Ex-Ante Evaluation and Implementation of Science, Technology and Innovation Projects

Application of Project Management using CPM (Critical Path Method) and Pert (Project Evaluation and Review Technique) in the Nava House Bekasi Cluster Housing Development Project

Housing development projects are developing very rapidly. Housing development projects will increase people's income and standard of living. One of the housing development projects in Bekasi City is the Nava House Cluster housing complex. Nava House housing is a Cluster type housing complex. When working on a development project, project scheduling is required. In project scheduling, there are several methods that can be used, namely the CPM and PERT methods. Both methods can be used to minimize the time lag in project work. This thesis aims to determine the path formed in the network, the activities included in the critical path and the completion time contained in the critical path. The results of this research on the Nava House housing development project are: first, there are 3 routes in the network. second, the activities included in the critical path are A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I, J, L, M, N, O, P. Third, the house that has been worked on is analyzed using the CPM method, getting results The critical path is 57 days. Meanwhile, houses that are still early in construction or houses that are about to begin construction are analyzed using the PERT method, obtaining critical path results of 66 days.

Enhancing the capacity of community health workers in prevention and control of epidemics and pandemics in Wakiso district, Uganda: evaluation of a pilot project

BackgroundCommunity Health Workers (CHWs) play a crucial role in outbreak response, including health education, contact tracing, and referral of cases if adequately trained. A pilot project recently trained 766 CHWs in Wakiso district Uganda on epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response including COVID-19. This evaluation was carried out to generate evidence on the outcomes of the project that can inform preparations for future outbreaks in the country.MethodsThis was a qualitative evaluation carried out one year after the project. It used three data collection methods: 30 in-depth interviews among trained CHWs; 15 focus group discussions among community members served by CHWs; and 11 key informant interviews among community health stakeholders. The data was analysed using a thematic approach in NVivo (version 12).ResultsFindings from the study are presented under four themes. (1) Improved knowledge and skills on managing epidemics and pandemics. CHWs distinguished between the two terminologies and correctly identified the signs and symptoms of associated diseases. CHWs reported improved communication, treatment of illnesses, and report writing skills which were of great importance including for managing COVID-19 patients. (2) Enhanced attitudes towards managing epidemics and pandemics as CHWs showed dedication to their work and more confidence when performing tasks specifically health education on prevention measures for COVID-19. (3) Improved health practices such as hand washing, vaccination uptake, and wearing of masks in the community and amongst CHWs. (4) Enhanced performance in managing epidemics and pandemics which resulted in increased work efficiency of CHWs. CHWs were able to carry out community mobilization through door-to-door household visits and talks on community radios as part of the COVID-19 response. CHWs were also able to prioritize health services for the elderly, and support the management of patients with chronic diseases such as HIV, TB and diabetes by delivering their drugs.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate that CHWs can support epidemic and pandemic response when their capacity is enhanced. There is need to invest in routine training of CHWs to contribute to outbreak preparedness and response.