Backgound
Methods
The evaluation followed the five stages of the ENCOMPASS evaluation framework and used a mixed-methods approach. A wide range of methods and data were used, including 37 interviews, five ripple effects mapping workshops (22 participants), analysis of 138 documents, network analysis and systems mapping, longitudinal consortium surveys (2018, 2021, 2023), quantitative synthesis, and economic simulation modelling.
Results
ActEarly succeeded in building interdisciplinary research capacity, and the project had demonstrable impact on collaboration and research infrastructure that was considered necessary to facilitate future prevention research networking successes, even if measurable changes in child health were beyond the scope of a 5-year programme. ActEarly also increased knowledge of community research practices and had direct and indirect influences on local decision making within the child health system in which it operated. Although the timeline and context in which ActEarly operated was not suitable to establish impact on health outcomes, evidence suggested that many aspects of the ActEarly programme reached a ‘tipping point’, whereby it is likely to continue to support the child health system beyond the end of the project.
Conclusions
Systemwide programmes like ActEarly can make substantial contributions to building the conditions to improve health outcomes through building evidence, research capacity and collaborations.
