Gamified, Flexible, and Creative Tools for Evaluating a Support Program for Palliative Children and Their Families
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12347331 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Erika Fortunati (0000-0002-0959-0049, Research and Evaluation, Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia, corresponding author), Claire Treadgold (0000-0001-7530-3645, Research and Evaluation, Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Evaluation Journal of Australasia (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1035-719X • E-ISSN: 2515-9372 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/1035719x251407737 |
| OpenAlex | W7116980675 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 22 |
This article explores the innovative evaluation methods developed for Starlight Children’s Foundation’s palliative care program, Moments . This approach focuses on capturing feedback from children and families in a flexible, creative manner while minimising evaluation burden. A review of the literature revealed an absence of standardised tools for evaluating programs in palliative care, especially those involving children. However, research shows that participatory and child-friendly evaluation techniques enhance engagement and provide valuable insights into program impact, amplifying children’s voices in a context where they are often underrepresented. In response, Starlight developed novel gamified evaluation activity books and worksheets tailored to various developmental stages, enabling children to share their feedback in a playful, meaningful way that aligns with the program’s nature. Based on our work, we recommend (a) using gamified and participatory methods that actively involve children; (b) creating multiple formats suited to different ages using plain language; (c) applying opt-in recruitment while being mindful of timing; (d) offering clear, flexible participation options such as explainer videos and both digital and physical submissions; and (e) maintaining rigorous ethical standards. These findings add to broader research on program evaluation and highlight the importance of prioritising children’s perspectives, even in sensitive care contexts
Citizen journalism · Context (archaeology · Palliative care · Participatory action research · Participatory evaluation · Program evaluation · Starlight · Child Therapy and Development · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
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| Highly cited | No |
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