Objectives: The evaluation serves to establish whether and how the programme achieves its goals and why certain mechanisms have been relatively successful or unsuccessful in particular contexts. This will help in deciding how to improve the programme.
Theoretical underpinnings: The design of this evaluation is derived from a Critical Realist framework interpreted through Theories of Change and Realistic Evaluation.
Methods: Formative, process, product and effect measures are adopted using a longitudinal triangulated approach to data collection and analysis including interviews, focus groups, surveys and observational methods. Along with routinely collected clinical data, the perspectives of key stakeholders, programme co-ordinators, parents, head teachers and dental workers will also be explored in relation to Childsmile objectives.
Results: Adopting a Theories of Change and Realistic Evaluation approach has proven to help clarify objectives and facilitate programme development which in turn has led to the successful uncovering of proxy indicators by which the objectives may be measured/explored during the evaluation. Goals ranged from a competent dental workforce to improved oral health and reduced inequalities. Piloting the triangulated instruments for the collection of formative data resulted in favourable and rich responses.
Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest the theory and methodology adopted is appropriate for the evaluation of Childsmile East and has met the approval of the Scottish Executive's Evaluation Board for Childsmile.