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Volume 19 (2)
Volume 19, Issue 2, Spring 1999
J Contin Educ Health Prof 1999; 19(2):111-121
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Needs Assessment in Long-Term Care Facilities: Linking Research and Continuing Education
Barbara J. Daley, PhD
Sarah A. Wilson, PhD
A b s t r a c t
The provision of continuing education in the health professions relies on the under-lying
assumption that the learning needs of staff have been assessed and that this assessment
leads to a comprehensive educational plan to meet the needs identified. Research indicates
that learning needs assessments happen less in practice than continuing education providers
would like to believe. The purpose of this article is to describe a methodology for assessing
learning needs of staff in long-term care facilities by combining needs assessment with qualitative
research methodology. The authors present a model in which the data analysis component
of the described research generated two complementary sets of research and education outcomes.
A description of how the research and education findings were employed in program
planning and evaluation is provided. Finally, implications for the practice of continuing professional
education are expressed. The authors conclude that collaboration between researchers
and continuing education providers benefits both the research and learning needs assessment
processes.
Keywords: Continuing Professional Education; Learning Needs Assessment; Needs Assessment
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