RHI recently completed an independent summative evaluation based on our previous (2013-2018) $35-million agreement with primary funding partner Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD).
What is a summative evaluation?
Summative evaluations look at the impact an intervention has. RHI’s evaluation addressed questions of relevance, implementation, effectiveness and efficiency and ultimately, what impact our projects and initiatives have on improving outcomes for people with spinal cord injuries.
What did the evaluation find?
The biggest finding was that the work of RHI is needed to address and reduce the substantial social and economic burden SCI imposes on persons with SCI, their family, their caregivers, and the health care system.
The evaluation also found that:
- The work of RHI is aligned with federal priorities. The 2017 federal budget (which was reviewed for the evaluation) made numerous references to health, research and innovation that were relevant to RHI’s work.
- Implementation has been successful. Overall, RHI's activities supported by WD in this agreement have been implemented in accordance with design.
- Outputs have been delivered as planned. RHI successfully delivered on the vast majority of the promises made in the funding agreement with WD in terms of deliverables and targets.
- Awareness has increased. Awareness of best practices documents in any area of SCI practice is high, the Praxis 2016 conference was widely seen as successful in terms of engaging stakeholders. Individuals interviewed for the evaluation applauded RHI’s efforts to increase awareness of the commercialization potential of promising innovations in industry.
- Use has increased, but potential may be slowing. Generally, it was observed that RHI has invested deeply and effectively in enabling factors for SCI research that has potential to accelerate progress toward the cure in the future in the long term. There is also growing recognition that addressing the issues raised by SCI will be more complicated, more difficult, and more demanding than initially estimated worldwide.
Notwithstanding these promising results, RHI will continue to work with our valued partners to drive innovation in SCI research and care that will have a positive impact on individuals with SCI.