CME Planning Series: article one of five, conducting a needs assessment
Van Hoof, T.J.
Connecticut medicine 72(8): 477-480
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-6178 PMID: 18798382 Document Number: 621834
Conducting a needs assessment is the first step in the process of planning a CME activity or program. Performing a needs assessment requires a clear sense of one's target audience. Having more than one perspective, with at least one data source being subjective and another being objective, helps educators offer a program that is meaningful and relevant to participants. A root cause analysis represents an additional step of needs assessment that offers critical details about the educational needs of the target audience.