Abstract 210: Improving Evidence-Based Decisions in SIHD Management: Simulation in Continuing Education

Abstract

Background: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) to manage angina is widely underused in patients with stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD), and patients are often misdiagnosed and not managed appropriately. Goals: This study was conducted to determine if an online, simulation-based continuing medical education (CME) intervention could improve performance of cardiologists in medical management of patients with SIHD. Methods: The CME intervention consisted of two cases presented in a platform that allowed learners to choose from numerous lab tests, diagnoses and treatments matching the scope and depth of actual practice. The clinical decisions made by the learners were analyzed using an artificial intelligence engine, and clinical guidance (CG) was then provided based on current evidence and expert recommendation. Learner decisions were collected after CG and compared with each user’s baseline (pre-CG) data using a 2-tailed paired T-test to determine P values for assessing the impact of education on clinical decisions. Results: As a result of CG, significant improvements were observed among cardiologists post- CG compared to pre-CG, related to patient assessment, diagnosis and appropriate treatment of SIHD (Table). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that simulation-based CME can improve evidence-based practices of cardiologists related to management of SIHD. In addition, ongoing educational gaps were uncovered related to appropriate patient assessment, ability to diagnose SIHD, as well as ability to appropriately order step-up antianginal therapy.