Identification of the Dimensions and Components of Continuing Medical Education Based on Blended Learning with Sustainable Development Approach

The educational methods used in the retraining program and improving the level of professional capability of the medical community are one of the concerns in the field of health for sustainable development and quality assurance of health services. Blended learning is a thoughtful integration of e-learning and face-to-face learning, which in the field of continuing education in the medical community can play a significant role in improving the country's health system by improving the quality and quantity of education. This research is applied in terms of purpose and was conducted in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2019. To collect data, a combined method including three methods of documentary study, fuzzy Delphi, and survey was used. Sampling method was purposeful and 10 experts and scholars in the fields of continuing medical education and blended learning were interviewed using semi-structured interviews to achieve data saturation. To analyze the content, the qualitative content analysis was used in the first stage and fuzzy Delphi analysis in the second and third stages. At first, 218 initial codes were extracted, which were reduced to 78 codes after continuous review. The results of this qualitative research lead to the identification and introduction of 7 main dimension including institutional, educational management and resource support, technology and design, pedagogical, evaluation and feedback, ethics and learning templates for the continuing education model of the community based on blended learning as well as 28 components and 100 subcomponents. The results of this research can be considered by policy makers and planners in this field and can be used for sustainable development of community health.