Presentation Description
Louise Shaw1
Kayley Lyons1 and Mady Mani2
1 University of Melbourne
Kayley Lyons1 and Mady Mani2
1 University of Melbourne
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard has a crucial role in Australia’s digital health transformation. Australia needs significant upskilling of the health workforce to develop, implement, and maintain FHIR technologies [1]. It was necessary to determine the best choice of training programs for the differing roles of FHIR users, that could be feasibly delivered in one year.
We conducted a general needs assessment (step 1) to establish training needs, required skills and knowledge, followed by a targeted needs assessment (step 2) to apply knowledge learned [2]. To determine the ideal approach, we gathered evidence aligned with a decision-making framework:
- There is high participant interest -identification of learners
- It will advance practice in Australia -understanding the learning environment
- We have the necessary expertise and capability to build the course at a high quality
- The course is not being offered elsewhere at the necessary quality - what is currently being done?
Several sources of data were collected and analysed according to the framework, including expressions of interest surveys, post course surveys, individual and focus group interviews with key informants, and a market scan of existing training programs. One year after the program launch, we evaluated needs assessment estimates of how many learners would express interest in each proposed course.
We recommended nine FHIR fundamentals courses, which varied based on target audience, use case, length, and delivery medium. One-year follow up of calculated predictions of expressions of interest for each proposed course, was within 10%. Our decision-making framework offers educators and researchers an effective approach to needs assessment with the goal of enhancing the content and effectiveness.
Conducting needs assessments can focus the goals, objectives, educational strategies, and evaluation plan for a novel country-wide training program. Evaluating a needs assessment is rarely done but allows researchers to improve needs assessment approaches.
References (maximum three)
We recommended nine FHIR fundamentals courses, which varied based on target audience, use case, length, and delivery medium. One-year follow up of calculated predictions of expressions of interest for each proposed course, was within 10%. Our decision-making framework offers educators and researchers an effective approach to needs assessment with the goal of enhancing the content and effectiveness.
Conducting needs assessments can focus the goals, objectives, educational strategies, and evaluation plan for a novel country-wide training program. Evaluating a needs assessment is rarely done but allows researchers to improve needs assessment approaches.
References (maximum three)
Australian Digital Health Agency, Australia’s National Digital Health Strategy. 2020.
2. Thomas, P.A., et al., Curriculum development for medical education: a six-step approach. 2022: JHU press.