669-P: Serial Online Education Helps Break Down Primary Care Practitioner Barriers to Insulin Therapy for T2DM Management

Abstract

Introduction: Clinicians in primary care settings play key roles in T2DM care, yet data and past educational outcomes suggest they’re ill-prepared in insulin replacement therapy delivery, including recognition of need, and its optimization. Methods: An online interactive CME series for health care providers (HCPs) launched live-online in June 2019 and remained online for 6 months. “Insulin Replacement Therapy: Evolving Treatments and their Clinical Implications” included three 1-hour sessions focusing on: 1) insulin treatment options; 2) indications for initiation/advancement of insulin; and, 3) individualization/optimization. Sessions included polling and live Q and A segments. Faculty included physicians and a clinical pharmacist who specialize in diabetes and endocrinology. Evaluation included pre/post/2-mos. post surveys measuring knowledge, competence and self-reported clinical impact. In total, 2,230 learners participated in the series, including 819 physicians, 397 NPs/PAs, and 169 pharmacists. Primary care, internal medicine and diabetes specialists totaled 1,318. Results: Follow-up results indicated that 76% of learners reported positive educational impact on clinical practice and 128 examples were shared of specific clinical improvements, many relative to insulin use for T2DM. Additionally, 76% of respondents reported positive impact on patient outcomes and/or satisfaction, with 106 specific impact examples shared. Knowledge and competence questions that aligned with learning objectives consistently yielded improvements, all of which (12 questions) demonstrated statistically significant pre to post change. Conclusion: CME on diabetes management and insulin use leads to increased clinical confidence among HCPs, ultimately improving the quality of care of T2DM people who are in need of insulin replacement therapy. Data continue to confirm previous results about the positive impact of continuing education for clinicians. Disclosure W. Turell: None. C. Drexel: None. R.S. Beaser: None. Funding Eli Lilly and Company; Novo Nordisk; Medtronic; MannKind Corporation