Incorporating adult learning principles (ALPs) into continuing medical education (CME) and continuing education (CE) content is crucial for developing practical activities that enhance clinician behavior and, ultimately, improve patient health outcomes.

The effectiveness of continuing medical education (CME) is built upon a solid needs assessment that starts with identifying gaps in clinical practice and performance. Recognizing these gaps is essential because it allows educational initiatives to be tailored to foster learning, change behaviors, improve the quality of healthcare, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) goes beyond traditional needs assessments by uncovering the underlying reasons behind practice and performance gaps in Continuing Medical Education (CME). By identifying true root causes—whether system-level issues, communication breakdowns, or knowledge deficits—RCA empowers educators to design targeted interventions that drive lasting improvement in healthcare practice.