Evaluating the strategic impact of medical revalidation. Building an evaluation framework.

Executive Summary.
1. Background
On 3rd December 2012, the regulation of medical doctors in the UK by the GMC underwent its most radical reform in 150 years with the introduction of revalidation. This initiative presents a unique and exciting opportunity to evaluate the design features of an innovative regulatory system; in order to assure and potentially further develop revalidation as a robust regulatory process.
Aims & objectives The aim of this research was to develop a framework for evaluation for consideration by the GMC encompassing suggestions/recommendations which could capture information about the key design features of revalidation over which the GMC has jurisdiction. The evaluation should illuminate the central processes of the policy as they play out in practice, and generate an evidence base for examining how specific processes could be developed or enhanced in the future. Therefore, specific objectives of the research were to:
1. Review the current literature
2. Explore with key stakeholders the focus, purpose and potential benefits of
revalidation and its evaluation
3. Draw on the above to develop an evaluation framework
4. Outline various methods that could appropriately populate the evaluation
framework.