Measurement of learning outcomes in continuing professional development

Abstract

Outcome measures for continuing education are important for the profession, health service managers, statutory bodies, the government, the public, and education providers. However, outcome measurement offers challenges of methodology. Finding measures that are appropriate to expert clinical practice demands a new approach based both on existing methods and on professional judgments. Outcome measurement also poses questions about cause and effect, because the extent to which any measured outcome can be attributed to specific educational interventions is limited by factors that intervene between an identified educational need, the subsequent education, and changes based on that education.