Study protocol for a pragmatic evaluation of the Worcestershire Meeting Centre Programme for people affected by dementia

Background: Pragmatic evaluation can assess whether complex health programmes have the desired effects (or not), as well as understand how effects are caused across real-world contexts. This is critical when scaling programmes because of increasing components and contexts that create methodological, political, and practical challenges. This paper reports the protocol for a pragmatic evaluation of a scaling programme referred to as the Worcestershire Meeting Centres Programme [WMCP]. WMCP aims to increase the availability of the Meeting Centre intervention for people affected by dementia across a county of England. Methods: The paper describes the mixed methods research framework and how it works according to the principles of pragmatic evaluation. Three connected research phases aim to: (1) explore change from the perspective of diverse programme stakeholders; (2) measure change to establish impact; and (3) monetarily account programmes costs and benefits to estimate the programmes Social Return on Investment [SROI]. Ethical considerations are discussed from the perspective of people affected by dementia. The purposeful sampling approach, and qualitative and quantitative research methods to be used are discussed. Dissemination: The protocol provides a real-world example of how programme complexity as well as effectiveness/cost-effectiveness may be understood using SROI, including the data collection and analysis methods that can be drawn from in the process. This is the first paper that considers and maps SROI according to the principles of pragmatic evaluation. Results will develop on limited evidence of scaling costs and outcomes in a contextually sensitive way that is needed in dementia. Dissemination will be focused on programme improvement through ongoing reporting to programme funder and providers. Local Authorities interested in the programme will be informed about the research to influence evidence-based translation practices. An intervention description and results papers will be presented at conferences and published in peer reviewed and open access journals.