2013 Annual Report: 2013 Continuing Professional Development Gap Analysis and Needs Assessment Initiative
Beginning in late 2012 and throughout 2013, the Foundation embarked on an ambitious initiative to collect and analyze gap analysis and needs assessment data to provide direction for the future of the Foundation’s continuing professional development function. Under the leadership of Sonya Malekzadeh, MD, and the Education Steering Committee, AAO-HNSF education committees, residency program directors, Academy members, and current residency education activity participants, and staff contributed to this Academy-wide effort. The assessment identified perceived practice gaps and education needs in order to plan more focused education activities. Data gathering included not only critical course topics, but also education design and format, as well as types of media best used to educate the members. This was an all-encompassing investigation that measured all Foundation education activities, including the Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM, on various levels to ascertain how the members need and want to engage in lifelong learning. The assessment is expected to become a biennial event. Members of the eight education committees examined current products and programs through a comprehensive needs assessment and SWOT analysis. Members furthered this effort by completing a member-wide education survey addressing their current continuous professional development needs and requirements. Additional surveys gathered data from program directors, medical school academic residency directors, and leaders in the use of simulation in otolaryngology residency training. Lastly, each education product was specifically evaluated by individuals who had directly participated in the activity. This robust data product will provide the AAO-HNS Foundation with the information and ability to revamp and revitalize its education offerings. The Foundation’s education leadership now has essential information for the next education planning cycle, valuable insight for longer-term planning, and required information for our 2015 ACCME reaccreditation preparation. The initiative is also a model for future years’ efforts to continually identify members’ gaps in practice, assess members’ education and training needs, and engage members in the ongoing initiative to impact lifelong learning and patient outcomes in a meaningful way. The outcome objectives of this initiative were to: Develop an action plan to improve the member education experience. Design education activities that meet the clinical needs of our members. Increase member involvement in and satisfaction with education offerings. Enhance member knowledge, competence, and skill in practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Through this initiative, three critical themes emerged: Need for awareness of the breadth and depth of the Foundation education offerings. Need for engagement to encourage utilization and participation in education activities by both members and nonmembers. Need for high quality of education activities.
Under the leadership of Sonya Malekzadeh, MD, and the Education Steering Committee, AAO-HNSF education committees, residency program directors, Academy members, and current residency education activity participants, and staff contributed to this Academy-wide effort. The assessment identified perceived practice gaps and education needs in order to plan more focused education activities. Data gathering included not only critical course topics, but also education design and format, as well as types of media best used to educate the members. This was an all-encompassing investigation that measured all Foundation education activities, including the Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM, on various levels to ascertain how the members need and want to engage in lifelong learning. The assessment is expected to become a biennial event.
Members of the eight education committees examined current products and programs through a comprehensive needs assessment and SWOT analysis. Members furthered this effort by completing a member-wide education survey addressing their current continuous professional development needs and requirements. Additional surveys gathered data from program directors, medical school academic residency directors, and leaders in the use of simulation in otolaryngology residency training. Lastly, each education product was specifically evaluated by individuals who had directly participated in the activity. This robust data product will provide the AAO-HNS Foundation with the information and ability to revamp and revitalize its education offerings.
The Foundation’s education leadership now has essential information for the next education planning cycle, valuable insight for longer-term planning, and required information for our 2015 ACCME reaccreditation preparation. The initiative is also a model for future years’ efforts to continually identify members’ gaps in practice, assess members’ education and training needs, and engage members in the ongoing initiative to impact lifelong learning and patient outcomes in a meaningful way.
The outcome objectives of this initiative were to:
- Develop an action plan to improve the member education experience.
- Design education activities that meet the clinical needs of our members.
- Increase member involvement in and satisfaction with education offerings.
- Enhance member knowledge, competence, and skill in practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.
Through this initiative, three critical themes emerged:
- Need for awareness of the breadth and depth of the Foundation education offerings.
- Need for engagement to encourage utilization and participation in education activities by both members and nonmembers.
- Need for high quality of education activities.