Abstract
Background: Education & Training Centre for Public Healthcare of the National Medical Centre plays a key role in providing continuing professional development (CPD) to 221 public health and medical institutions in South Korea. To assess the realisation of the Center’s core value and of the intended chages, program evaluations is needed. The context, input, process, and product (CIPP) model is particularly suitable for evaluating CPD in public sector as it allows to recognise the dynamic nature of the programme environment.Methods: This research applied the CIPP model to the evaluation of CPD programmes, particulary abdominal and thracic ultrasond programme implemented in 2017 and 2018. Data were collected from 2017 to 2019. The programme and its feedback were reviewed in context evaluation. Based on this, the subsequent programme strategy was established in input evaulation. Observing the programme in real time and recording progress was followed in process evaluation. Finally, the outcome and impact of the programme were reviewed and compared with baseline data in product evaluation. Results: In context evaluation, the educational needs of the recipients of the Centre’s CPD programme, impediments that inhibit participation in education, and resources that the Centre can utilise were identified through online survey, focus group interviews, expert consultation. Through input evaluation, we identified the best alternative that satisfied all pre-selected criteria, which were responsiveness to priority system needs, potential effectiveness, fit with existing services, affordability, and administrative feasibility. Observing the programme in real time and recording progress was conducted in process evaluation and shows that the improved programme went as planned, and even had to be expanded due to increased demand. The impact of the programme was measured, interpreted, and assessed in the product evaluation. As the review committee decided that the intended change has occurred, the Centre decided to maintain the program. Conclusions: Thorough evaluations are necessary to unlock the potential benefits of CPD. The CIPP methodology is valuable to execute formative as well as summative evaluations. The CIPP model is especially useful for securing accountability data for large-scale nation-wide educational programmes supplied by public funds.