'Pragmatic Evaluation': A Conceptual Framework for Designing a Systematic Approach to Evaluation of eHealth Interventions

E-Health continues to be implemented despite continued demonstration that it lacks value. Specific guidance regarding research approaches and methodologies would be beneficial due to the value in identifying and adopting a single model or framework for any one ‘entity’ (healthcare organisation, sub-national region, country, etc.) so that the evidence-base accumulates more rapidly and interventions can be more meaningfully compared. This paper describes a simple and systematic approach to e-health evaluation in a real-world setting, which can be applied by an evaluation team and raises the quality of e-health evaluations. The framework guides and advises users on evaluation approaches at different stages of e-health development and implementation. Termed ‘Pragmatic Evaluation,’ the approach has five principles that unfold in a staged approach that respects the collective need for timely, policy relevant, yet meticulous research.