Outcome Assessments

The purpose of the outcome assessment is to show that learning has occurred as a result of the CME activity.  These are mandatory for each program every time and must be done in addition to evaluations. Names should be added to the outcome assessment forms.  Planning your evaluation process should occur early in the overall CME process. This must be done in addition to evaluations for every program every time!

There are many different ways to measure that learning has occurred.  Some suggested approaches are:

• Intent to change forms:
  There are 2 key elements in this assessment: the initial intent to change form and the follow up assessment. Both of these must be done for this assessment.
  
  The intent to change form is designed to capture physicians’ intent to change behavior as a result of the program. The key questions are designed to evaluate clinicians’ self reported intent to change behavior and actual change.  Other questions can be added regarding importance, usefulness, readiness to change, or useful in planning future activities.
  
  The follow up evaluation must be done 3, 6, 9, or 12 months after the program. Physicians report the extent to which they made changes in practice as a result of the program and describe the nature of those changes.  This type of self reported data can be used in conjunction with analyses of objective patient care data.
  Download Intent to Change (doc)
  Download Follow up Assessment (doc)

• Pre/post tests:
  The program planner should contact the presenter to fill out the pre/post test questionnaire; presenters are required to write at least 2 objectives per hour of presentation and will then develop at least one question per objective to be obtained for a pre/post test. The same questions should be used for both the pre and post tests.  The program planner must develop, collect, and grade the completed pre and post tests.  The scores should improve as a result of the CME program.
  Download Pre/Post Test Questions (doc)
  Download Pretest Template (doc)

• Simulations:
  The educational provider will be required to write a note to the CME Coordinator regarding successful completion of the course/procedure by the physician.

• Case based vignettes:
  A copy of the vignettes should be sent to the CME Coordinator along with a statement regarding the results of the discussion.

• Role playing:
  In order to improve communication with patients or patient’s family, role playing exercises will be accepted.  A copy of what is done as well as the results will be accepted.

• Wet lab (Cadaver Lab):
  A note from the instructor regarding the physicians’ successful completion of the procedure will be accepted as suitable evidence that learning occurred as a result of the CME program.