CME Course Research Articles

ASA Members Share Positive Feedback on New Patient Communications CME Course

ASA Members Share Positive Feedback on New Patient Communications CME Course

The Consultant Psychiatrist and the Transgender Patient

The Consultant Psychiatrist and the Transgender Patient

Reduced humoral immune response after mRNA vaccination correlates with breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection in ocrelizumab-treated multiple sclerosis patients (P12-3.005)

Reduced humoral immune response after mRNA vaccination correlates with breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection in ocrelizumab-treated multiple sclerosis patients (P12-3.005)

Next-generation sequencing improves agreement and accuracy in the diagnosis of Spitz and spitzoid melanocytic lesions.

Spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms can be challenging to diagnose on histopathology alone. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers promise as a valuable aid in the diagnosis. Recently, one study reported increased inter-rater agreement in the diagnosis of spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms among 20 expert melanoma pathologists after incorporating NGS data. We hypothesized that NGS would carry a similar utility in a broader group of dermatopathologists and general pathologists. Sixty-three participants of a live online (www.Dermpedia.org) CME course rendered a diagnosis on 70 cases composed of melanocytic neoplasms with spitzoid features. In Survey 1, cases included H&E slides and demographic information only, while Survey 2 included NGS data. With NGS information, inter-rater agreement significantly improved from "fair" to "almost perfect" and from "fair" to "substantial" for categorizing lesions as Spitz versus non-Spitz and conventional melanoma versus not, respectively. There was also an increase in diagnostic accuracy, evidenced by improved recognition of three metastatic tumors as being conventional melanomas. The study supports the adoption of NGS as a valuable diagnostic adjunct for both expert and broader dermatopathologists in their assessments of spitzoid neoplasms.

Guidance on Navigating Insurance Plans for TMS-Eligible Patients

Guidance on Navigating Insurance Plans for TMS-Eligible Patients

Научно-практическая конференция «Клинический случай в нефрологии. 11th REENA ™ CME Course »: обзор ключевых вопросов

No abstract

Collaborative Care Rises to the Pandemic Challenge

Collaborative Care Rises to the Pandemic Challenge

Scabs Versus Scars: Understanding the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Short- and Long-Term Behaviors.

Scabs Versus Scars: Understanding the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Short- and Long-Term Behaviors.

COVID-19 and How It Is Affecting Me as a Thyroidologist

COVID-19 and How It Is Affecting Me as a Thyroidologist

Congress Report from Highly Scientific Nephrology Congresses in the Balkans, 15th Bantao and 6th MSNDTAO Congress.

In the period from 26th until 29th of September 2019, the 15th BANTAO Congress (Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs) in conjunction with the 6th Congress of the Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) was held in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, hosted by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA). MSNDTAO was created in 1992 and the First Congress of the MSNDTAO was held on 9th October 1993 in Ohrid when, also, the Balkan Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was established, as the only professional association of this kind in the Balkans and Southern Europe. Since then, MSNDTAO has been very active in education and collaboration with BANTAO, the European Renal Association (ERA-EDTA) and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). The 15th BANTAO and the 6th MSNDTAO Congress were highly professional events in honor of the 80th anniversary of Academician Momir Polenakovic from the Republic of North Macedonia, one of the founders of BANTAO and MSNDTAO, who was unselfishly dedicated to the education and guidance for many generations of young doctors in this region. This year's Congress was endorsed by the ERA-EDTA, and supported by the ISN. On the first day of the Congress, a European Renal Best Practice (ERBP) session was held, in which the Chair of the ERBP Working Group, Prof. Dr. Jonathan Fox gave a comprehensive insight of the purpose and aims of ERBP, the methods used for their achievement, and an overview of the recently produced and guidelines in development. The second day was organized in four sessions: Clinical nephrology and renal registries; CKD Diagnosis, comorbidities and treatment; Kidney transplantation and Acute and chronic renal failure management. On the third congress day, the ISN CME Course with ERA-EDTA endorsement was held. The course was entitled "Possibility of diagnosis and treatment of the CKD progression and complications/Possibility of diagnosis and treatment of the CKD progression - current perspective" and was chaired by Prof. Dr. Caskey Fergus and Prof. Dr. Serhan Tuglular. On the last Congress day, before the official closure and the best wishes from the President of the Congress, Prof. Dr. Goce Spasovski, a session about CKD and the renal replacement therapy complications was held. This event was of an exceptional importance for the region, considering the charred international achievements and the most up-to-date methods used in the Nephrology field, bringing out continuous quality improvement in the treatment of patients with renal diseases.

Chinese physician perceptions regarding industry support of continuing medical education programs: a cross-sectional survey

ABSTRACT Background: Industry funding in continuing medical education has been extensively studied in the USA. Although continuing medical education is also a requirement for Chinese physicians, little is known about Chinese physician perceptions of industry support in continuing medical education. Objective: We aim to determine perceptions regarding industry support for CME among Chinese physicians at a large CME course, examine potential associations between Chinese physicians’ perceptions and their demographic characteristics, and compare Chinese and US physicians’ perceptions of industry support for CME. Design: We performed a cross-sectional survey of physicians at a nephrology continuing medical education conference in China. All participants received a previously published, anonymous survey consisting of 4 items, with questions asked in English and Mandarin Chinese. Responses were compared with those of a previous cohort in the USA. Results: The response rate was 24% (128/541). Most respondents were nephrologists (112/126, 89%), women (91/128, 71%), and aged 20 to 40 years (79/127, 62%). Most respondents preferred industry-supported continuing medical education (84/123, 68%) or had no preference (33/123, 27%). More clinicians than clinical researchers supported industry offsetting costs (76.9% vs 58.3%; P = .03). Almost half of participants (58/125, 46%) stated that industry-supported continuing medical education was biased in support of industry. Compared with US physicians, Chinese physicians were more likely to believe, or had no opinion, that industry-supported courses were biased (67.2% vs 47.0%; P < .001). Conclusions: Chinese continuing medical education participants preferred industry-sponsored continuing medical education and were strongly in favor of industry offsetting costs, but almost half believed that such education was biased in favor of supporting companies. Concern for bias was higher among Chinese than US physicians. Given participants’ concerns, further study examining industry bias in Chinese continuing medical education is recommended. Abbreviations: CME: Continuing medical education; US: USA

Special SGO Issue on the Inaugural IASGO CME Course in Braga, Portugal, October 28-31, 2019

Special SGO Issue on the Inaugural IASGO CME Course in Braga, Portugal, October 28-31, 2019

Novel insights into parathyroid hormone: report of The Parathyroid Day in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often associated with a mineral and bone disorder globally described as CKD-Mineral and Bone Disease (MBD), including renal osteodystrophy, the latter ranging from high bone turnover, as in case of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), to low bone turnover. The present article summarizes the important subjects that were covered during ‘The Parathyroid Day in Chronic Kidney Disease’ CME course organized in Paris in September 2017. It includes the latest insights on parathyroid gland growth, parathyroid hormone (PTH) synthesis, secretion and regulation by the calcium-sensing receptor, vitamin D receptor and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)–Klotho axis, as well as on parathyroid glands imaging. The skeletal action of PTH in early CKD stages to the steadily increasing activation of the often downregulated PTH receptor type 1 has been critically reviewed, emphasizing that therapeutic strategies to decrease PTH levels at these stages might not be recommended. The effects of PTH on the central nervous system, in particular cognitive functions, and on the cardiovascular system are revised, and the reliability and exchangeability of second- and third-generation PTH immunoassays discussed. The article also reviews the different circulating biomarkers used for the diagnosis and monitoring of CKD-MBD, including PTH and alkaline phosphatases isoforms. Moreover, it presents an update on the control of SHPT by vitamin D compounds, old and new calcimimetics, and parathyroidectomy. Finally, it covers the latest insights on the persistence and de novo occurrence of SHPT in renal transplant recipients.

Altered Sensory Phenomena Experienced in Bipolar Disorder.

Altered Sensory Phenomena Experienced in Bipolar Disorder.

Family doctors learn about the therapeutic potential of exercise through an experiential CME course

The Family Medicine Department in the Clalit HMO Central District conducts weekly CME courses for primary care physicians. An experiential course called Therapy through Movement was created to expo...

Relationships Between Reflection and Behavior Change in CME.

Reflection exposes performance gaps and is a step in the process of behavior change among adult learners. However, little is known about the relationships between reflection and behavior change in CME. Our objectives were to measure associations between validated reflection scores and behavior change among CME participants and to identify associations between reflection and characteristics of CME presentations. This was a cohort study of attendees at a national hospital medicine CME course. Participants provided reflection scores for each presentation and planned commitment-to-change (CTC) statements at the conclusion of the course. Reflection scores from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) were averaged for each presentation. CTC statements were linked to their accompanying presentations. A 3-month postcourse survey was conducted to assess if planned CTCs were successfully implemented. In all, 223 of 281 participants (79.4%) returned evaluations. Of the 195 planned CTC statements available for postcourse analysis, 128 (65.6%) were implemented. Reflection scores correlated with the number of planned CTC statements across all presentations (Pearson correlation, 0.65; P < .001). In addition, higher reflection scores (mean [SD]) were associated with the presence of audience response opportunities (Yes: 4.13 [0.18] versus No: 3.96 [0.16]; P = .01) and the use of clinical cases (Yes: 4.09 [0.18] versus No: 3.86 [0.12]; P < .01). To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a relationship between participant reflection and CTC in conference-based CME. Presentations that incorporate clinical cases and audience response systems seem to stimulate participant reflection and behavior change.

Treat Chronic Insomnia With CBT-I, Says American College of Physicians

Treat Chronic Insomnia With CBT-I, Says American College of Physicians

Trauma-Informed Medical Care: Patient Response to a Primary Care Provider Communication Training

ABSTRACTTrauma exposure predicts mental disorders and health outcomes; yet there is little training of primary care providers about trauma’s effects, and how to better interact with trauma survivors. This study adapted a theory-based approach to working with trauma survivors, Risking Connection, into a 6-hour CME course, Trauma-Informed Medical Care (TI-Med), to evaluate its feasibility and preliminary efficacy. We randomized four primary care sites to training or wait-list conditions; PCPs at wait-list sites were trained after reassessment. Primary care providers (PCPs) were Family Medicine residents (n = 17; 2 sites) or community physicians (n = 13; 2 sites). Outcomes reported here comprised a survey of 400 actual patients seen by the PCPs in the study. Patients, mostly minority, completed surveys before or after their provider received training. Patients rated PCPs significantly higher after training on a scale encompassing partnership issues. Breakdowns showed lower partnership scores for those with trauma or posttraumatic stress symptoms. Future studies will need to include more specific trauma-related outcomes. Nevertheless, this training is a promising initial approach to teaching trauma-informed communication skills to PCPs.

Abstract W MP120: Minimally Invasive Subcortical Parafascicular Access for Clot Evacuation. A Paradigm Shift

Introduction: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is common and causes significant mortality and morbidity. To date, intervention remains uncertain. Neurosurgical therapies for subcortical lesions have been limited by procedure-related injury to the cerebral cortex and adjacent subcortical brain regions. This is particularly relevant for eloquent cortex, therefore surgical therapy is often not performed. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that using an integrated systems approach for Minimally invasive Subcortical Parafascicular Access for Clot Evacuation (MiSPACE) consistently, could result in improved clinical outcomes and protection of eloquent tissue, especially if we focus on minimizing trauma to normal tissue. Methods: We report on this standardized technique incorporating 5 cores of MiSPACE 1) image interpretation and trajectory planning, 2) dynamic navigation, 3) a traumatic access (BrainPath, NICO Corp), 4) optics (Storz), and 5) resection (Myriad, NICO, Corp), wherein all surgeons have been trained through a CME course and have applied the surgical technique and approach in all 25 cases. Pathology, pre- and post-operative clinical and radiographic characteristics and clinical outcome at last follow-up were collected. Results and Conclusions: The cases presented illustrate successful application of the MiSPACE standardized systems approach. Mean pre-operative ICH volume was 47.2 and mean percentage of clot removal was 89%. Most importantly, significant recovery was observed in 89% of patients with no new deficits reported. MRI tractography obtained pre operatively illustrates how collateral tissue preservation can be achieved by trajectory planning. Using the same technique, the same equipment, in a standardized approach in dominant, eloquent cortex and subcortical regions (Table 1) this may lead to improved outcomes. Safety and feasibility studies are required to further assess this promising new therapeutic paradigm.

P239 Breaking New Ground To Close The Gaps Between Physcian’s Knowledge And Prcatice

BackgroundEffective dissemination of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (EBCPG) help clinicians practice evidence-based-medicine, close practice gaps, thus improving medical care.ObjectivesTo determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention to measure changes in...