Designing and Validating the Continuing Medical Education Model Based on Blended Learning

The purpose of the present study was to design and validate the continuing medical education model based on blended learning in Iran. This study was conducted by using a mixed exploratory design with Instrument Development Model. First, in qualitative part of this study, a questionnaire consisted of 7 major aspects, 28 components and 100 sub-components was developed by using grounded theory approach and interview with 10 experts. Then, in the quantitative part, the primary designed questionnaire was distributed among 10 Iranian experts of Continuing Medical Education programs and Blended Learning. Based on the received feedback, the questionnaire was revised. Then the final version was distributed countrywide among 383 persons subject to continuing medical education rule, selected by stratified random sampling method. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts using the three-stage Delphi method and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha (α= 0.943). A Non-probability purposive sampling method was used in the qualitative part of the study whereas random sampling method was utilized in the quantitative part. Analysis of structural equation modeling was used for testing mentioned model. To verify the factor structure, the first confirmatory factor analysis was used and the model was confirmed with 7 major aspects, 28 components and 100 sub-components. Results of second-order confirmatory factor analysis showed that the extracted major aspects and components have sufficient factors for predicting the Continuing Medical Education model based on blended learning in Iran. In addition, goodness of the fit indices were as follows: (Chi-square/df= 2.38), (RMSEA= 0.072), (GFI=0.98), (AGFI = 0.92), (CFI = 0.94), (NFI = 0.98(. The results of statistical tests displayed that the designed model for continuing medical education model based on blended learning in Iran is well fitted.