Concept Testing:

BACKGROUND — Nearly 50% of those in the US are affected by hypertension, but too often this vital sign is not adequately measured either by healthcare provider or by patients using home health devices. This physician association developed a measurement training program to improve the effectiveness of HCP monitoring and care for chronic hypertension. This digital curriculum was personalized to the learner’s level of knowledge and designed from evidence-based principles of how professionals learn best and master knowledge.

A DOWNSIDE — Unfortunately, because blood pressure management is ubiquitous, medical students do not view mastery in this area as a useful differentiator in their careers. How to make this area seem more compelling and thus incentivize learning and mastery?

THE APPROACH — We convened learners from various backgrounds—teachers, students, nurses-in-training, APPs-in-training—in two focus groups. In each focus group, we tested a concept that we hypothesized to be a driver to interest in the curriculum. This was a certification program attached to the curriculum. The certification could be used on a resume on the job market and incentivize further interest in learning.

THE FINDINGS — Focus group participants revealed that the certification could be useful, but that the certification could not be entirely derived from the digital curriculum. An in-person assessment was critical, since many of the techniques involved with measuring blood pressure should be assessed (ideally) in person and not through digital proxies.

THE RESULT — The team learned a vital lesson that saved them thousands in investment. The certification was likely not the problem in need of a solution. It was the perception and internalized mental model that blood pressure measurement is a run-of-the-mill skill and not a signal of expertise. The team decided to further investigate this barrier before investing more in an expensive hybrid-model certification program.