Abstract P255: Addressing Management of Resistant Hypertension: Effect of Online CME

Abstract

Introduction: Clinicians have a less than adequate understanding of how to properly evaluate patients to diagnose treatment-resistant hypertension, and how to use combination therapies and strategies for managing adherence to therapy to optimize outcomes. Objective: To determine if an online, video-based continuing medical education (CME) intervention could improve knowledge and competence of cardiologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) in managing patients with resistant hypertension. Methods: An online CME activity was developed as a 25-minute roundtable discussion with 3 leading experts on strategies to manage patients with VTE. The activity included a transcript and a downloadable slide deck to reinforce key data. The effects of education were assessed using a linked pre- /post-assessment study design. For all questions combined, the McNemar’s chi-square test was used to assess differences from pre- to post-assessment. Cohen’s d was used to calculate the effect size. Results: The change in correct responses from pre- to post-assessment achieved statistical significance for all 4 questions for cardiologists (N=156; d=0.981; P<.001) and PCPs (n=539; d=0.978; P<.001) with a large effect size for both specialty groups (Table). Conclusion: The significant improvements observed as a result of participation in this CME intervention demonstrate that well-designed internet-based education can improve knowledge and competence of physicians. However, both cardiologists and PCPs demonstrate a need for further education on the prevalence of resistant hypertension, clinical data, and strategies to address nonadherence to antihypertensive therapy.