Maximizing Learning Impact in Cat Veterinary Clinics: A Needs Analysis Leading to Strategic Learning Solutions

In my last post, I shared insights about conducting a needs assessment to spot performance gaps in veterinary clinics, particularly around feline diabetes management. In this post, we’ll dive into conducting a needs analysis and creating a strategic learning plan for our mock veterinary clinic, Feline Fancy Veterinary Clinic, as part of Tim Slade 's eLearning challenge.

As a reminder, our challenge is that we have way too many emergency visits due to feline diabetes. By exploring a thorough needs analysis and crafting a targeted learning plan, we aim to enhance our educational resources and, ultimately, improve the health of our hypothetical customers, cat owners. Join me as we navigate this important process to create effective learning solutions for our furry friends!

The Challenge: High Emergency Visits for Feline Diabetes

Our research showed that about 25% of cat owners weren’t clued in on essential diabetes management strategies. This knowledge gap contributed to a staggering 70K emergency visits each year, with a big chunk of those linked to diabetes complications. What was particularly concerning was that many cat owners reported feeling overwhelmed and unsure about managing their cats’ health, which only added to the urgency of the situation. We decided it was time to create targeted educational programs that could help cut those emergency visits by 10% over the next year.

Conducting the Needs Analysis

We kicked off the project by gathering insights from various stakeholders, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians, cat owners, and customer service representatives. The goal? To pinpoint specific areas where education was lacking.

View the needs analysis document.

In our analysis of case notes from emergency visits related to diabetes, we found that cat owners were unaware of critical management strategies, such as recognizing symptoms and understanding the importance of dietary needs. Additionally, interviews revealed that many cat owners expressed a lack of confidence in their ability to manage their cats' diabetes.

Through surveys and case reviews, we uncovered critical gaps in knowledge and behavior, focusing on what owners needed to understand about feline diabetes. This deep dive allowed us to plan to tailor our educational initiatives specifically to address the most pressing needs of cat owners.

Crafting the Strategic Learning Plan

With our findings in hand, we set out to create a comprehensive learning plan. The purpose of the learning plan is to outline our educational strategy, ensuring alignment with our goals while detailing how we’ll address the identified knowledge gaps. 

View the strategic learning plan document.

Here’s a little of what we focused on in the learning plan:

1. Educational Content Development: As part of our initiative, we will be creating three comprehensive courses designed to equip cat owners with essential knowledge and skills for managing feline diabetes. The courses will consist of engaging materials, including interactive eLearning modules and quick reference guides, ensuring that information is easily accessible and digestible.

• Recognizing Symptoms: This course will help cat owners identify the early signs of diabetes and understand when to seek veterinary assistance. Through interactive scenarios, learners will practice recognizing symptoms in different contexts, enhancing their observational skills.
• Blood Glucose and Insulin Management: In this module, cat owners will learn about the importance of monitoring blood glucose levels and how insulin therapy plays a critical role in diabetes management. The course will cover topics such as understanding glucose readings, recognizing the signs of hypo- or hyperglycemia, and effectively administering insulin.
• Diet and Nutrition: Proper nutrition is vital for managing feline diabetes. This course will educate owners on the dietary requirements specific to diabetic cats, focusing on food options, portion sizes, and meal frequency.

Our goal is to ensure that cat owners not only gain theoretical knowledge but also acquire practical skills that can lead to better health outcomes for their feline companions.

2.  Scenario-Based Learning: To make the learning experience more relatable, we will integrate real-life scenarios that cat owners might encounter. This approach allows our learners to apply their knowledge in a safe, controlled environment, building confidence in managing their cats’ health. For example, a scenario might present a situation where a cat owner notices their pet displaying unusual behavior, prompting them to decide the next steps for their cat's health. In our video with Janice and Bella the learner will make a decision in the eLearning and be prompted with feedback.

3. Action Maps: As part of our planning, we developed action maps to visually outline the desired behaviors and actions we wanted cat owners to take after completing the educational modules. Action maps serve as a roadmap for both learners and instructional designers, clarifying the connections between learning objectives, content, and real-world applications. This tool helped us ensure that our educational materials would not only impart knowledge but also promote actionable skills that could be applied in everyday situations.

4. Stakeholder Involvement: Throughout the process, we kept our stakeholders in the loop. Regular feedback sessions ensured that we were on the right track and allowed us to make adjustments based on real-world insights. We aimed to foster a collaborative environment where veterinarians and technicians could contribute their expertise and experiences to enrich the educational content.

5. Learning Objectives: We defined clear learning objectives for each module, ensuring that they were specific, measurable, and relevant. These objectives will help us gauge the effectiveness of our educational materials and ensure that cat owners gain the necessary skills to manage their pets' diabetes effectively.

6. Learning-Transfer Evaluation Model (LTEM): We also integrated Will Thalheimer 's LTEM alongside our learning objectives. The LTEM model emphasizes the importance of transferring knowledge from the learning environment to real-world applications. By using this model, we were able to design our learning objectives with a focus on what learners should be able to do in practice, ensuring that they could effectively apply their new skills when managing their cats' diabetes. This alignment between learning and real-world application is critical for ensuring that the educational experience is meaningful and impactful.

7. Support Resources: In addition to the primary learning materials, we included performance support resources like quick reference guides and checklists. These tools are designed to reinforce learning and provide ongoing support to cat owners as they navigate the complexities of managing feline diabetes.

So What Happens Next?

Through this mock project at Feline Fancy Veterinary Clinic, we’ve shown how a focused needs analysis and a well-crafted learning plan can make a meaningful impact on managing feline diabetes. Next up I'll share the detailed content outlines with you all and then we'll move into design and development of the eLearning.

What challenges have you faced in conducting needs analyses or creating strategic learning plans? What approaches have you found effective? Share your insights in the comments below!

-Mel