Abstract
Objective Physician participation in Continuing Medical Education programs may be influenced by a number of factors. To evaluate the factors associated with compliance with the Continuing Medical Education requirements at a private hospital, we investigated whether physicians’ activity, measured by volumes of admissions and procedures, was associated with obtaining 40 Continuing Medical Education credits (40 hours of activities) in a 12-month cycle.Methods In an exclusive and non-mandatory Continuing Medical Education program, we collected physicians’ numbers of hospital admissions and numbers of surgical procedures performed. We also analyzed data on physicians’ time since graduation, age, and gender.Results A total of 3,809 credentialed, free-standing, private practice physicians were evaluated. Univariate analysis showed that the Continuing Medical Education requirements were more likely to be achieved by male physicians (odds ratio 1.251; p=0.009) and who had a higher number of hospital admissions (odds ratio 1.022; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age and number of hospital admissions were associated with achievement of the Continuing Medical Education requirements. Each hospital admission increased the chance of achieving the requirements by 0.4%. Among physicians who performed surgical procedures, multivariate analysis showed that male physicians were 1.3 time more likely to achieve the Continuing Medical Education requirements than female physicians. Each surgical procedure performed increased the chance of achieving the requirements by 1.4%.Conclusion The numbers of admissions and number of surgical procedures performed by physicians at our hospital were associated with the likelihood of meeting the Continuing Medical Education requirements. These findings help to shed new light on our Continuing Medical Education program.
Highlights
Physicians are continuously challenged to maintain their clinical competence.[1]
To better understand the factors associated with achieving the Continuing Medical Education program requirements at our hospital we investigated whether care production, gender, age, and time since graduation, were related to the likelihood of achieving the Continuing Medical Education program requirements
The Continuing Medical Education (CME) program is based on a credit system that was established for medical educational activities offered at hospitals and other places, such as universities.[11]. These activities include participation in educational meetings and workshops, publications, teaching, participation in the production of institutional policy documentation and protocols, and other individual and group learning activities
Summary
Physicians are continuously challenged to maintain their clinical competence.[1]. Their knowledge needs to be kept up-to-date, and new concepts should be incorporated into their practice. Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs are designed to foster and evaluate the educational needs of the medical community by focusing on keeping physicians updated on the ever-increasing body of medical knowledge.[2]. Another important challenge is the translation of knowledge into practice, and in this regard the effectiveness of CME programs has been under discussion.[3] It has been difficult to determine the impact of CME programs on physicians’ knowledge[4] and professional practice,(5) and on healthcare outcomes.[3,4,5,6,7]. Identification of these factors is crucial for improving the program and increasing compliance
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