Join the ongoing efforts of the Cancer Survival Toolbox Program to evaluate its impact. Evaluating the impact of programs for cancer survivors is increasingly important to insure future funding of such efforts and to measure program efficacy.  In providing you with the Toolbox Facilitator's Manual, the Cancer Survival Toolbox development team asks that you join us in gathering empirical data from the participants in your groups.  This is a relatively simple process using the forms provided to you.  Our team is conducting an ongoing multi-site study and the Pre-and Post-test data you gather will be included in this study.  You may also wish to use the data from you group in your own way as well.  A form has been included for you to complete and return to us along with copies (or originals) of the Pre- and Post-tests you administer to your group participants.  All identifying information from this form will be kept confidential.  Only group data will be published. Download the evaluation packet.

Distributing and Collecting the Pre- and Post-test. As noted earlier, most participants in educational programs such as the Cancer Survival Toolbox expect to be asked about the program's effectiveness and are willing to provide you with feedback.  Since standard educational methods are being used in this program, it should not be necessary for you to obtain IRB (Investigation Review Board) approval for gathering this type of evaluation data.  However, you may want to check with your IRB to be certain.

Pre-test.  It is important to distribute copies of the Pre-test to each group member, and ask that they be completed, before you begin teaching the content of the Toolbox, just after a brief introduction by the group facilitator(s).

Post-test.  It is also important to distribute and collect the Post-test forms before the closing of final group session (Session 6).

Pre-test and post-test data are very valuable in promoting the usefulness of this type of self-advocacy training in the future.  Also included in the evaluation packet are evaluation forms for each of the six sessions.  You may want to ask participants to complete these in addition to the Pre-test and Post-test.

The Pre-test and Post-test forms ask for the same information for group participants in order to compare their responses before and after their exposure to the training program.