Ritchie, JaneHills, MichaelDriscoll, Sharon Lucille2026-04-012026-04-011988https://hdl.handle.net/10289/18167This study is a formative and process evaluation and analysis of what occurred before and during the Waikato Hospital Board’s Review of Maternity Services. An historical perspective of the Service Development Group (SDG) approach to health planning is presented together with information about the establishment of the SDG and review process. Nine objectives were proposed which were to: establish the reasons behind the Board’s decision to review existing maternity services; describe what happened during the review period; describe the reasons for the Board’s decision to use a SDG to review maternity services; assess the effectiveness of evaluation research techniques for this study; describe participants’ attitudes toward the SDG; examine the interaction and co-operation between the various committees involved in the review; attempt to measure the amount of satisfaction with the SDG exercise as perceived by participants; draw conclusions about the value of the SDG and make recommendations for future Service Development Group exercises. Three major research techniques were used. Analysis of archival data gave an historical perspective of the Board and its maternity services, while questionnaires were used to gather information from the three groups involved in the study an: 11 member Service Development Group, the 6 member Board’s Steering Committee, and several committee members of each of the 7 SDG nominating organisations. Interviews with the SDG and the Board’s Steering Committee members provided in-depth qualitative information. One questionnaire was administered to SDG members after pre-testing. It was then adapted for use with the Board’s Steering Committee and committee members of the SDG nominating organisations. The research was sequential with preliminary data analysis being completed before interviews were conducted with SDG and Steering committee members. There were no refusals for interviews or questionnaires. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and qualitative interpretation which highlighted the emergence of global trends and allowed comparison between groups. Nine themes emerged from the questionnaire and interview data. The SDG approach was positively supported as was the combination of professional and community representation in health services reviews. Full discussion and agreement on terms of reference for any SDG should involve all participants. Other findings concerned the members’ role as nominated representatives, support for the SDG’s work and its ability to effect change, and concern with the methods of the general administration of the SDG. Issues concerning group size and parochial interests of individuals and groups were elaborated as were the SDG’s feelings toward the power of the Board’s Steering Committee. An awareness of cultural issues surfaced as a result of the SDG’s work. Advantages of the participant role of the researcher and benefits of in-depth qualitative analysis are discussed. There is a critical appraisal of the methodology and directions for future research are discussed. Major recommendations arising from the research were that the SDG approach is a worthwhile method for health services reviews, that all potential SDG members should be appointed before commencement of meetings, and that skilled public relations and communications programmes should be used. Terms of reference require careful consideration, SDG membership should be limited to preferably less than 11 people, a key person is required to act as facilitator, and an awareness of cultural issues is necessary. It was concluded that evaluation research techniques were useful and successful when employed to monitor and assess the SDG process. A prescriptive model for service development groups is proposed in the final chapter. The model presented would be applicable to any SDG involved in a service planning task. It is a model for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the impact of the service development group. Consideration is given to the way that diverse cultural and social viewpoints can be accommodated in the deliberations of SDG’s. The overall objective of the model presented is participatory democracy attempted through community involvement in planning.enAll items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.Thesis