title: Use of a mail-out continuing education article to teach health professionals about drug-induced disease.
abstract: A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)/Georgetown University Medical Center conference was the basis for "Clinical Therapeutics and the Recognition of Drug-Induced Disease," the first MEDWATCH continuing education (CE) mail-out article. Developed as a major component of FDA MEDWATCH post-marketing surveillance outreach, the article used a clinical therapeutic approach to discuss topics including adverse drug events (ADEs) pharmacology and ADE reporting. Distributed nationwide through the MEDWATCH Partners, health professionals applied for CE credit by completing a self-assessment examination. With the overall response rate slightly more than 2%, 15,260 health professionals (55% physicians and 37% pharmacists) received CE credit. Evaluation of the initial approximately two-thirds (N = 10,021) of successfully completed exams found 99% agreement that stated learning objectives were met, and the article relevant to their clinical practice; spontaneous comments/letters were also very positive. The highest percentage responding specialists were internists (28%) and psychiatrists (17%), with notable differences found among specialties for response rate versus relative article distribution (such as relatively low response rates among surgeons and radiology/radiation physics specialists). The number of health professionals receiving CE credit, coupled with examination performance and overall response, indicates that "Clinical Therapeutics and the Recognition of Drug-Induced Disease" was well received and fulfilled learning objectives. The results provide encouragement for this continuing educational approach.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D003625:Data Collection; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012655:Self-Evaluation Programs; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration