Formative evaluation and its relevance to palliative care

摘要: For the most part, evaluation of health care and attempts to improve quality have drawn upon quantitative methods research. However, for many questions, and in health care specialities, evaluation may be neither practical, desirable, nor ethical. Qualitative may more appropriate when evaluators are attempting ‘open-up’ a new field study1 or concerned illuminate and understand issues an ever-changing context. Various qualitative have been developed which potentially hold out number possibilities within area palliative care.2 Qualitative case study is one such example. In this paper, key characteristics this methodological approach presented explained, illustrated by reference two palliative care services. More specifically, paper will focus process conducting type of context care. For this reason findings presented elsewhere3-6.