Educational evaluation: what are the outcomes?

The complexity of treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) necessitates in-depth patient education to enable patients to manage their condition when not under the direct supervision of medical personnel. Patient education is only as effective as the extent to which it produces measurable outcomes. Short-term outcomes such as knowledge gains may be a first step in evaluating the effectiveness of patient education; however, transfer of knowledge is often not sufficient to bring about positive outcomes. Specific technical skills, problem solving or coping skills, or self-efficacy may be the most critical mediators of positive outcomes in patient education interventions for ESRD. Few systematic, methodologically sound studies that look at both short-term and long-term outcomes of patient education have been conducted. The need for continuing research in this area is imperative.