TO EVALUATE TRAINING IMPACT IN HEALTHCARE: AN ACTION-RESEARCH PROJECT ORIENTED TO A SUSTAINABLE MODEL

Organizations in general, and particularly those in the healthcare sector, need to have evidence of the added value of training; the few existing tools and models may be too complex and time-consuming and are therefore usually dismissed or not used properly. The aim of this presentation is to introduce a sustainable model to analyze the impact of training in the healthcare sector. The TIE-H model (Training Impact Evaluation - Healthcare Model) has been created through a process of Action Research intervention involving the training referents of a large Italian healthcare organization in a four year-long process, and was tested on over 350 training courses. The main feature of the model is its focus on the training impact starting from the planning phase. The first step consists of classifying training based on three impact criteria; afterword deploying goals, indicators and timing of evaluation. The first criterion refers to the impact area: individual, team, organization; the second one refers to the added value (efficiency/effectiveness, quality, engagement and culture) and the third one refers to the degree of expected change (normative, improvement, strategic and disruptive). At the end of each training, following the defined timing, indicators are monitored to define the impact of the training, its expected and un-expected results. In addition to providing a new impact evaluation process, the TIE-H model has proved to be effective since the planning phase, making the training project process closer to the training aims, allowing for an easier identification of expectations of training results, thus acting as a guideline for training planning.