We can use the evaluation process to determine how effective our training efforts have been. Unless we periodically take measures to evaluate what we are doing, we will not be able to know how well we are achieving our objectives. Being open to evaluating our own individual performance and that of our peers and trainees indicates that we are being accountable for our own actions and the results of our actions on other people. An important quality of being a professional in the health field is having the desire to provide the best service we can and the willingness to periodically look at ourselves to see how we can improve. Evaluation is a process by which we can observe what we and others are doing and learn how to improve these activities, where necessary.

There are many reasons that evaluation is important, and there are different ways it can be done. This section will present some practical methods by which evaluation can be carried out for trainees and trainers.