Efficacy of an integrated continuing medical education (CME) and quality improvement (QI) program on radiation oncologist (RO) clinical practice

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2006 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.07.018· OSTI ID:20850271

Leong, Cheng Nang ^[1]; Shakespeare, Thomas Philip ^[2]; Mukherjee, Rahul K ^[2]; Back, Michael F ^[2]; Lee, Khai Mun ^[2]; Lu, Jiade Jay ^[2]; Wynne, Christopher J ^[2]; Lim, Keith ^[3]; Tang, Johann ^[2]; Xiaojian, Zhang ^[4]

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1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute, National University Hospital (Singapore) and Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Singapore)
2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute, National University Hospital (Singapore)
3. Department of Radiation Oncology, The Cancer Institute, National University Hospital (Singapore)
4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital, Fudan Hospital, Shanghai (China)

Purpose: There has been little radiation oncologist (RO)-specific research in continuing medical education (CME) or quality improvement (QI) program efficacy. Our aim was to evaluate a CME/QI program for changes in RO behavior, performance, and adherence to department protocols/studies over the first 12 months of the program. Methods and Materials: The CME/QI program combined chart audit with feedback (C-AWF), simulation review AWF (SR-AWF), reminder checklists, and targeted CME tutorials. Between April 2003 and March 2004, management of 75 patients was evaluated by chart audit with feedback (C-AWF) and 178 patients via simulation review audit (SR-AWF) using a validated instrument. Scores were presented, and case management was discussed with individualized educational feedback. RO behavior and performance was compared over the first year of the program. Results: Comparing the first and second 6 months, there was a significant improvement in mean behavior (12.7-13.6 of 14, p = 0.0005) and RO performance (7.6-7.9 of 8, p = 0.018) scores. Protocol/study adherence significantly improved from 90.3% to 96.6% (p = 0.005). A total of 50 actions were generated, including the identification of learning needs to direct CME tutorials, the systematic change of suboptimal RO practice, and the alteration of deficient management of 3% of patients audited during the program. Conclusion: An integrated CME/QI program combining C-AWF, SR-AWF, QI reminders, and targeted CME tutorials effectively improved targeted RO behavior and performance over a 12-month period. There was a corresponding increase in departmental protocol and study adherence.

• OSTI ID: 20850271
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 66; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AUDITS
LEARNING
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
PATIENTS
PERFORMANCE
REVIEWS
SIMULATION