Lessons Learned on Social Health Integration: Evaluating a Novel Social Health Integration and Social Risk-Informed Care Online Continuing Medical Education Course for Primary Care Providers

Abstract

Abstract Background Adjusting clinical care to account for social risks and needs is vital to patient-centered care, but little attention has been paid to implementing it in routine practice. Kaiser Permanente co-designed and developed a continuing medical education (CME) course to orient providers to adjustment activities, or social risk-informed care. We evaluated the dissemination and implementation of this course. Methods We evaluated the dissemination and implementation of the online CME using the RE-AIM implementation framework and the Kirkpatrick model of evaluation for training and learning programs. Administrative records and completion reports were generated to track dissemination and completion. A pre- and post-survey design was utilized to assess provider changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and self-efficacy in delivering social risk-informed care, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to describe effectiveness of the online CME, adoption of social risk-informed care, and sustainability of the online CME and other KP social health integration initiatives. Results From April 2022-February 2023, 82 individuals completed the online CME; 52 participants completed the pre-survey and 38 completed the post-survey. A total of 17 interviews were conducted over two phases of qualitative data collection (passive dissemination versus active dissemination). Interviewees felt the online CME provided foundational knowledge in social health and social risk-informed care but requested more region- and role-specific resources. They also identified several systems-level barriers to social health integration. Conclusion Co-designing medical education courses with various stakeholders is vital to ensuring relevant and effective educational material. However, high-quality, intentionally designed educational material needs to be complemented with multifaceted and targeted implementation strategies to achieve intended provider behavior change and improved patient outcomes.