Continuing Medical Education: A Cross Sectional Study on a Developing Country’s Perspective

Almoalwi²,

et al. 2020

Preprint

Background: Continuing Medical Education (CME) is concerned with the maintenance, improvement, and promotion of the health care and exhausts the physicians’ working life-span. Although international research is extensive, only a dearth of studies exists in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. This study aims to explore CME practices of resident physicians in Abha City and the existing gaps. Method : A cross-sectional questionnaire-based descriptive study conducted on residents training in various health-care facilities in Abha city. Results: Participants in the study were (n=300) doctors, of whom (n = 239, 79.7%) reported attending lectures and seminars for their CME needs followed by (n = 119, 39.7%) who attended case presentations. Electronic CMEs were used by a minority of (n = 24, 8%), and only (n = 82, 27.3%) attended journal clubs. Being busy was the main barrier against self-reading as per (n = 212, 70.7%) of participants, and by (n = 155, 51.7%) against lectures and seminars, and by (n = 124, 41.3%) against courses attendance. There was no significant association between gender, nationality, or training level and satisfaction with CME activities (p = 0.982, p = 0.924, and p = 0.5400 respectively). Satisfaction with CME activities varied considerably across specialties (p = 0.039), psychiatry trainees were far less satisfied than their restorative dentistry counterparts (p = 0.0046), as well as for General Surgery trainees (P = 0.0230), Ophthalmology trainees (p = 0.0301), pediatrics trainees (p = 0.0214), and Preventive Medicine trainees (p = 0.0283). Conclusion: The participant physicians favoured contact CME activities but not non-contact CME activities. In consistence with global research findings, being busy was the main barrier against CME goals attainment. Participants affirmed that CME activities improved their clinical practice, clinical skills and academic skills. Promotion of online learning in Saudi Arabia. Support of residents with protected time for their CME activities. Encouragement of trainees in specialties of psychiatry, general surgery, paediatrics, ophthalmology and preventive medicine to further advice about their preference in terms of CME forms to help boost their engagement.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 61%

Continuing Medical Education among resident physicians in Abha , Saudi Arabia : Current Practice and Existing Gaps

Almoalwi²,

et al. 2020

Preprint

“…This nding has been con rmed across national and international studies [32], and indeed little has changed in the past two decades, as a study in the same region some 20 years ago revealed that physicians had little time allocated for CME practice [33]. Time constraints were the second most common reason for not attending CME activities in a Pakistani sample of physicians [34]. The problem of a lack of protected time, we suspect, must have increased in recent times.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 73%

Continuing Medical Education among resident physicians in Abha , Saudi Arabia : Current Practice and Existing Gaps

Almoalwi²,

et al. 2020

Preprint

Abstract Background: Continuing Medical Education (CME) is concerned with the maintenance, improvement, and promotion of the health care and exhausts the physicians’ working life-span. Although international research is extensive, only a dearth of studies exists in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. This study aims to explore CME practices of resident physicians in Abha City, south western Saudi Arabia and the existing gaps.Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based descriptive study conducted on residents training in various health-care facilities in Abha city. Results: Three-hundred resident physicians participated in the study (response rate of 75%). Out of them 79,7% (239) reported attending lectures and seminars for their CME needs followed by those who attended case presentations 39.7% (119). Electronic CMEs were used by a minority of residents (n = 24, 8%), and only 27.3% (n = 82,) attended journal clubs. Being busy was the main barrier against self-reading as reported by 70.7% (212) of participants, and by 51.7 % (155) for lectures and seminars, and 41.3% (124) for attending courses. There were no significant differences in satisfaction with CME activities by gender, nationality and training level (p = 0.982, 0.924, and 0.540, respectively). Satisfaction scores with CME activities were variable across different specialties (p = 0.039). The lowest satisfaction scores were among psychiatry residents and the highest was among the restorative dentistry and surgery residents. Workshops and courses were significantly perceived by residents as the most effective method in retention of knowledge, improving attitudes, improving clinical skills, improving managerial skills, and in proving practice behaviors. On the other hand, inter-departmental activities were significantly perceived by residents as most effective in improving academic skills and improving departmental image.Conclusion: The participant physicians favoured contact CME activities. In consistence with global research findings, being busy was the main barrier against CME goals attainment. Participants affirmed that CME activities improved their clinical practice, clinical skills and academic skills. Promotion of online learning in Saudi Arabia. Support of residents with protected time for their CME activities. Encouragement of trainees into further advice about their preference in terms of CME forms to help boost their engagement.

“…This finding has been confirmed across national and international studies [21], and indeed little has changed in the past two decades, as a study in the same region some 20 years ago revealed that physicians had little time allocated for CME practice [22]. Time constraints were the second most common reason for not attending CME activities in a Pakistani sample of physicians [23].…”

mentioning

confidence: 61%

Continuous Medical Education among resident physicians in Abha, Saudi Arabia: Current Practice and Existing Gaps

Almoalwi¹,

2019

Preprint

Background: Continuing Medical Education (CME) is concerned with the maintenance, improvement, and promotion of the health care and exhausts the physicians' working life-span. Although international research is extensive, only a dearth of studies exists in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. This study aims to explore CME practices of resident physicians in Abha City and the existing gaps.Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based descriptive study conducted on residents training in various health-care facilities in Abha city.Results: Participants in the study were (n=300) doctors, of whom (n = 239, 79.7%) reported attending lectures and seminars for their CME needs followed by (n = 119, 39.7%) who attended case presentations. Electronic CMEs were used by a minority of (n = 24, 8%), and only (n = 82, 27.3%) attended journal clubs. Being busy was the main barrier against self-reading as per (n = 212, 70.7%) of participants, and by (n = 155, 51.7%) against lectures and seminars, and by (n = 124, 41.3%) against courses attendance. There was no significant association between gender, nationality, or training level and satisfaction with CME activities (p = 0.982, p = 0.924, and p = 0.5400 respectively).Satisfaction with CME activities varied considerably across specialties (p = 0.039), psychiatry trainees were far less satisfied than their restorative dentistry counterparts (p = 0.0046), as well as for General Surgery trainees (P = 0.0230), Ophthalmology trainees (p = 0.0301), pediatrics trainees (p = 0.0214), and Preventive Medicine trainees (p = 0.0283).