Interactive spaced education to assess and improve knowledge of clinical practice guidelines: a randomized controlled trial

Ann Surg. 2009 May;249(5):744-9. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e31819f6db8.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether Interactive Spaced Education (ISE) is an effective and acceptable form of graduate and continuing medical education (GME/CME), using clinical practice guideline (CPG) education as an experimental system.

Summary background data: ISE is a novel form of online education, which combines the pedagogical merits of the spacing and testing effects. Its efficacy for GME and CME is not known.

Methods: One-hundred sixty urologists and 320 urology residents were randomized to 1 of 2 cohorts. We developed and validated 48 ISE items (questions and answers) on 5 urology CPGs (hematuria and priapism [HP]; staghorn calculi, infertility, and antibiotic use [SIA]). Physicians were sent 3 emails a week, each containing 2 questions. Content was repeated 3 times over 20 weeks. Cohort A physicians received the 3-cycle ISE course on HP, with 24 control items on SIA in cycle 3. Cohort B physicians received the 3-cycle ISE course on SIA, with 24 control items on HP in cycle 3.

Results: The ISE program was completed by 71% urologists and 83% residents. Cohort A scores on HP increased from mean 44.9% in cycle 1% to 75.7% in cycle 3, a 57% relative increase compared with controls (P < 0.001; Cohen effect size, 2.2). Similarly, cohort B scores on SIA increased from 45.2% in cycle 1% to 69.5% in cycle 3, a 56% relative increase compared with controls (P < 0.001; effect size, 2.2). Eighty-four percent of all participants requested to enroll in further ISE programs.

Conclusions: ISE is an effective and well-accepted form of GME and CME and is a promising new methodology to improve CPG knowledge.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Education, Medical, Continuing / methods
  • Education, Medical, Graduate / methods*
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Internship and Residency
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic / standards*
  • Urology / education*