Guidance for Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Contribution Analysis: Undertaking and Facilitating the Process

The purpose of this guidance is to provide (sic) take readers through the process of undertaking contribution analysis - also known as 'outcomes planning and evaluation' (OPE). The guidance is designed for reference purposes for HIS staff. Much of the detail surrounding the process of conducting and facilitating contribution analysis is contained in the training materials and slides that will be made available to HIS staff. This guidance should be read alongside these materials. it should also be noted that this guide has been devised alongside a literature review in relation to evaluation and healthcare improvement (this review will be available to HIS staff). From the review a set of principles were devised. Evaluation for healthcare improvement should:-

- Include 'criteria for success' from different levels of the system and include the views of all relevant actors (patients, practitioners, managers, policy-makers), in setting out the theory of change for healthcare improvement programmes.

- Be easy to use and enhance the planning and implementation process rather than detract from it.

- Link healthcare improvement activities to wider outcomes, whilst also seeking to understand processes, and relationships, and be able to provide some evidence of the contribution made by the improvement programmes to these wider outcomes.

- Have a clear approach to healthcare improvement based on understanding of the processes underpinning change.

- Acknowledge that there are many influences on healthcare outcomes, to which improvement programmes provide contributions - in relation to individual programmes, and as an overall strategy.

- Provide evidence about the effectiveness of different approaches to healthcare improvement processes to enhance learning across different improvement programmes.