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Recent trends in continuing medical education among obstetrician-gynecologists.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21508743     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: : To estimate current trends in continuing medical education among obstetrician-gynecologists in relation to the Maintenance of Certification program.
METHODS: : A validated questionnaire was mailed to 1,030 randomly selected physicians of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Participants were asked about current practices and opinions regarding continuing medical education activities. Responses were compared between members mandated for Maintenance of Certification (board certification 1986 or later; time-limited certificate) or not (board certification before 1986; nontime-limited certificate).
RESULTS: : Five hundred twenty (50.4%) surveys were completed. Respondents were more often male (57.1%), generalists (87.3%), in community-based (73.8%) group practices (77.2%) with mean (±standard deviation) age 52.4±9.9 years. College physicians mandated to participate in the Maintenance of Certification program were more likely to rely on Annual Board Certification articles as a major source of continuing medical education credits compared with those not requiring Maintenance of Certification (79.9% compared with 44.6%, P<.001). This finding remained significant after multivariable adjustment for age, gender, years in practice, and practice type (odds ratio [OR] 9.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.03-20.5). Conversely, Maintenance of Certification requirement led to decreased use of the national or international meetings (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14-0.67) and self-selected continuing medical education materials (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.14-0.60) as sources of continuing medical education credits. Despite these differences, physicians in both groups equally valued the relevance of Annual Board Certification articles (92.6% compared with 96.4%, P=.23), the importance of content at academic meetings (98.3% compared with 99.3%, P=.33), the usefulness of simulation drills (97.8% compared with 94.3%, P=.35), and the general ability of continuing medical education activities to improve skills as a physician (90.9% compared with 86.4%, P=.20).
CONCLUSION: : Requirement of the Maintenance of Certification program has led to significant changes in continuing medical education choices by obstetrician-gynecologists. The changes in continuing medical education appear related to mandated obligations rather than personal preference.
Authors:
Richard M Burwick; Jay Schulkin; Sarah W Cooley; Vanitha Janakiraman; Errol R Norwitz; Julian N Robinson
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Obstetrics and gynecology     Volume:  117     ISSN:  1873-233X     ISO Abbreviation:  Obstet Gynecol     Publication Date:  2011 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-04-21     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0401101     Medline TA:  Obstet Gynecol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1060-4     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
From Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC; Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachusetts; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
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