<aside> 💡 A gap analysis is a methodological framework that helps to uncover gaps in clinical practice and performance. Gap analysis is part of a needs assessment, which supports effective learning experiences by aligning problems and goals, highlighting education opportunities, and informing the education planning process.

</aside>

🍽️ Table of contents

📔 Needs Assessment Overview

A CME/CE needs assessment is a key component of a grant or proposal that’s asking for funds to support education. It’s the heart of a grant proposal. Practice gaps and statements of education needs are the scaffolding of a needs assessment, and learning objectives and outcomes drive the purpose and goals of education. There are many different types of need that could be included in a needs assessment, including inferred, verbalized, and proven needs.

🛠️ How To Use This Framework

<aside> ➡️ Use this template to identify gaps, record the reasons behind the gap, and how education can close the gap between current and recommended clinical practice and performance.

</aside>

Describe the goal/objective of this needs assessment on a high level.

• [ ] Who is/are the supporter/s?
• [ ] What does the client hope to achieve with this needs assessment?

⛳️ Defining Practice Gaps

• A clinical (or performance) practice gap is a gap between is and ought—between what is happening in practice and what should be happening according to current evidence, clinical practice guideline recommendations, quality indicators, and other sources of trustworthy, validated data.
• Current practice and performance states point to problems that warrant education. Education opportunities become evident when gaps exist between current and recommended clinical practice and performance. Recommended states point to goals for practice and performance.
• Practice gaps are the building blocks of continuing medical education/continuing education for health professionals (CME/CE). When you’ve identified a gap, you must describe the reason the gap exists, such as lack of knowledge, low awareness, or lack of skill.

🧮 Gap Analysis Framework

Step by step