Abstract 11876: Impact of Online Continuing Medical Education on Advancing Physician Knowledge and Confidence Around Dual-Pathway Inhibition for Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Abstract

Background: Patients with PAD are at risk for MACE and MALE. Antithrombotic therapy, including DPI can improve patient outcomes. Physicians who care for patients with PAD may require education to improve knowledge and confidence around employing newer treatments. Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if online CME could improve physician knowledge and confidence of advances in DPI for the treatment of patients with PAD. Methods: The educational program consisted of a 15-minute online video-based rapid-fire discussion between 2 experts that launched March 24, 2021-March 24, 2022. Data were collected from participants on March 24, 2022. Four multiple choice questions were used; 3 assessed knowledge and 1 determined confidence with Likert-type scale. Endpoints were assessed using a repeated-pair design with pre-/post-assessment. A paired samples t-test was conducted on overall average number of correct responses for physician knowledge, and a McNemar’s test was conducted at the question level (significance level, P < .05) for confidence. Results: 855 physicians completed the pre-/post-assessment out of 3,825 total physician learners (22%). Physician specialties included general cardiology (28%), vascular cardiology (15%), vascular surgery (15%), other surgery (20%), and primary care (22%). Overall, significant improvements were seen in knowledge of medical treatment for PAD (P<.001), data for the use of factor Xa inhibition to treat PAD (P<.001), and confidence in selecting antithrombotic therapy (P<.001) (Table). Gains in knowledge and confidence were highest amongst vascular specialists compared with non-vascular specialists (Table). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effect of a 15-minute online video-based CME discussion between 2 expert faculty on knowledge and confidence among providers caring for patients with PAD related to advances in antithrombotic therapy. Continued gaps were identified for future educational targets.