Cost-benefit analysis: Review of an evaluation methodology for measuring return on investment in continuing education
✍ Scribed by Linda Casebeer; Linda Raichle; Robert Kristofco; Anna Carillo
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1997
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 330 KB
- Volume
- 17
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0894-1912
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
There is little evidence of measurement of return on investment for continuing medical education (CME) demonstrated in the current literature. The purpose of this review is to provide examples of cost-benefit analysis and evaluation methodology used to measure return on investment, and to encourage exchange on this issue among CME professionals. The information in this article was gathered from reports of learning outcome evaluations and cost-effectiveness measurements in continuing education for health care professionals, as well as cost-benefit analyses from other settings. Evaluation methods are briefly reviewed from typical evaluation of program objectives, quality of educators, and overall participant satisfaction, to the current need for evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs, to the ultimate outcome of these effects on patient health. The need for cost-benefit analysis in CME is becoming more evident in working with supporters of such medical educational activities. Presenting the actual measurement of benefits and costs of educational alternatives provides the funding decision maker and others with a comparison f o r the return on investment.