The development and descriptions of an evidence-based case management educational program.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Nursing Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Existing case management education programs often lack a strong theoretical foundation.
• Effective case management is crucial for successful patient care and outcomes.
• There is a need for evidence-based, theoretically underpinned educational programs for case managers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a case management education program.
• To utilize an expanded Donabedian structure-process-outcome framework as a foundational model.
• To integrate transformative learning theory and needs assessment findings into the program design.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review and needs assessment informed program design.
• An expert panel reviewed the proposed program content and learning strategies.
• Pilot testing was conducted with public health nurses to evaluate the program.
• The program development involved four main stages.

Main Results:

• The expert panel and pilot testing results supported the chosen program content and learning approaches.
• The developed program provides 16 hours of detailed content on the case management process.
• Learning strategies were selected based on transformative learning theory and needs assessment data.
• The program development process demonstrated the application of theory and evidence.

Conclusions:

• The developed case management education program is theoretically sound and evidence-based.
• The program's design and content were validated through expert review and pilot testing.
• This model provides a framework for developing other specialized healthcare education programs.
• The program is expected to enhance case management practice and patient outcomes.