The Journal of continuing education in the health professions
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J Contin Educ Health Prof · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialRandomized trial of problem-based versus didactic seminars for disseminating evidence-based guidelines on asthma management to primary care physicians.
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated the effectiveness of and satisfaction with small-group problem-based learning (PBL) versus a didactic lecture approach to guideline dissemination in asthma management controlling for confounders common in comparative educational interventions. ⋯ PBL was as effective in knowledge uptake and retention as lecture-based continuing medical education (CME) programs. Further study is warranted to investigate whether the assessment of higher educational value or an increase in response rate to delayed testing is replicable in other RCTs addressing common confounders and if these factors influence future CME participation, changes in physician clinical behavior, or patient health outcomes.
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J Contin Educ Health Prof · Jan 2004
Educational interventions to improve practice of nonspecialty physicians who are identified in need by peer review.
This article reports on the peer review process of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the licensing and regulatory authority, and the effect of educational interventions on physicians identified to be in need. Since 1980, the college has assessed more than 175 random and targeted nonspecialist physicians each year. ⋯ A majority of physicians identified as needing improvement improved and maintained their improved performance. The simple structured interventions employed by the college demonstrate an educational intervention that produces practice improvement.
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Our understanding about the role of the Internet as a resource for physicians has improved in the past several years with reports of patterns for use and measures of impact on medical practice. The purpose of this study was to begin to shape a theory base for more fully describing physicians' information-seeking behaviors as they apply to Internet use and applications for continuing education providers to more effectively support learning. ⋯ The Internet has become an important force in how physicians deliver care. Understanding more about physician information-seeking needs, behaviors, and uses is critical to CME providers to support a self-directed curriculum for each physician. A shift to increased use of electronic CME options points to new demands for users and providers. Specific information about how physicians create a question and search for resources is an area that requires providers to develop new skills.
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J Contin Educ Health Prof · Jan 2004
Maintenance of certification in the United States: a progress report.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is working closely with its 24 member boards to implement the four components of a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Those components include evidence of professional standing, lifelong learning and self-assessment, cognitive expertise, and evaluation of performance in practice. The new MOC program of the ABMS represents a dramatic shift from how graduate medical education, initial certification in the medical specialties, and recertification in the medical specialties are being conducted. This article updates how specialty boards are implementing the four components.
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J Contin Educ Health Prof · Jan 2004
Using Baldrige criteria to meet or exceed Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Standards.
Continuing medical education providers accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) may apply organizational assessment strategies beyond the ACCME Essential Areas, Elements, and Criteria. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program offers an organizational assessment strategy commonly used in business, health care, and education settings. ⋯ Including leadership, governance, and social responsibility, the Baldrige Education Criteria provide a more comprehensive organizational assessment and stronger emphasis on a wider variety of results. The present analysis suggests that a continuing medical education provider could meet, and possibly exceed, the ACCME standards by applying the Baldrige Education Criteria in a "self-study" process to define, measure, monitor, and document fundamental organizational responsibilities and performance.