Evidence-based choices of physicians: a comparative analysis of physicians participating in Internet CME and non-participants.
BACKGROUND
The amount of medical education offered through the Internet continues to increase, providing unprecedented access for physicians nationwide. However, the process of evaluating these activities is ongoing. This study is a continuation of an earlier report that found online continuing medical education (CME) to be highly effective in making evidence-based decisions.


METHODS
To determine the effectiveness of 114 Internet CME activities, case vignette-based surveys were administered to U.S.-practicing physicians immediately following participation, and to a representative control group of non-participants. Survey responses were analyzed based on evidence presented in the content of CME activities. An effect size for each activity was calculated using Cohen's d to determine the amount of difference between the two groups in the likelihood of making evidence-based clinical decisions.


RESULTS
In a sample of 17,142 U.S. physicians, of the more than 350,000 physicians who participated in 114 activities, the average effect size was 0.82. This indicates an increased likelihood of 48% that physicians participating in online activities were making clinical choices based on evidence.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians who participated in online CME activities continue to be more likely to make evidence-based clinical choices than non-participants in response to clinical case vignettes.
CE Outcomes, LLC, Birmingham, AL 35211, USA. linda.casebeer@ceoutcomes.com
Linda
L
Casebeer
Jennifer
J
Brown
Nancy
N
Roepke
Cyndi
C
Grimes
Blake
B
Henson
Ryan
R
Palmore
U Shanette
US
Granstaff
Gregory D
GD
Salinas
D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians; D014481:United States