There are very few validated instruments in CME assessment. I’ve only encountered three, and each was designed to measure satisfaction. As to why there are so few validated instruments, it’s pretty simple: 1) validating an instrument is difficult, and 2) grant funding in CME research is scarce (forcing the necessary research talent to focus elsewhere).
Of course, an enterprising investigator might see this gap as an opportunity to build a research career in an area with very low competition. For that person, I’d recommend starting with the following articles:
1. Downing SM. Face validity of assessments: faith-based interpretation or evidence-based science. Med Educ. 2006;40:7-8. (abstract)
2. Downing SM. Validity: on the meaningful interpretation of assessment data. Med Educ. 2003;37:830-7. (abstract)
3. Downing SM. Reliability: on the reproducibility of assessment data. Med Educ. 2004;38:1006-12. (abstract)
