CME Planning

Gap Analysis

Definitions Related to Practice Gaps

• Gaps / Practice gap: The difference between a current state and desired state. Gaps are typically expressed in terms of normative data.
• Gap analysis (GA): The methods used to collect a Gap and an interpretation of the information.
• Needs: 1) contributing factors to the formation of a Gap. 2) The knowledge or skills that must be remedied to help close a practice gap.
• Target Audience: The intended recipients of an educational activity.
• Wants: Possible solutions proposed to close a gap by targeting a need.

Tips and Tools for Developing Practice Gaps

Tips

• Link the subject to the environment where a learner will encounter the gap
• Avoid generalities
• Quantify the information being presented
• Provide backup for claims and statements

Video Resources

• Understanding Gap Types: Knowledge, Competence, Performance, and Patient Outcomes
• Addressing Practice Gaps
• Educational Needs

Data Sources

• the CDC's NCHS Health Interview Survey
• CDC Public Health Professionals Gateway: Data & Benchmarks
• the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• the Bureau of the Census
• The Cochrane Collaboration
• State Health Facts.org - The Kaiser Family Foundation
• the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• Healthy People.gov
• Child Stats.gov
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
• The AHRQ National Guideline Clearinghouse
• U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health
• The CDC National Center for Health Statistics – one of four general-purpose statistical agencies of the federal government charged with collecting, compiling, analyzing and publishing data for general use