We sought to determine if an online continuing medical education (CME) curriculum could improve the clinical knowledge and competence of primary care physicians (PCPs) and diabetologists/endocrinologists (diabs/endos) regarding cardiometabolic management of T2D incorporating recent cardiovascular outcomes trial (CVOT) data.
The online CME activities consisted of a 2 faculty, 15-minute video consultation and an interactive, case-based text activity. A 4-question repeated pairs pre-/post-assessment study design and McNemar’s chi-squared test were used to determine the efficacy of online education. P values < .are considered statistically significant. Activities were launched online on June 26, 2017 and August 28, 2017, with data collected until July 27, 2017 and September 28, 2017, respectively.
| PCPs baseline knowledge seen to be significantly lower than that of diabs/endos | |||||
| Topic | PCP Baseline Correct Responses | Diab/endo Baseline Correct Responses | P value | ||
| Avoidance of TZDs in patent with T2D and HF | 36% (N=344) | 71% (N=41) | P < 0.001 | ||
| Optimizing T2D therapy to meet cardiac-related goals | 47% (N=344) | 78% (N-41) | P < 0.001 | ||
| T2D treatment intensification in patient with CVD | 25% (N=344) | 54% (N=41) | P < 0.001 | ||
| Identification of blood pressure lowering as an extraglycemic effect of SGLT2 inhibitors | 49% (N=200) | 81% (N=78) | P < 0.001 | ||
| Significant overall improvements were seen post education | |||||
| Topic | PCP Change pre-to-post | P value | Diab/endo Change pre-to-post | P value | |
| Selection of liraglutide to treat a patient with T2D, CVD, and renal disease | 51% (N=344) | P<.0001 | 39% (N=41) | P<.0001 | |
| Recognition of TZDs as a bad therapeutic option in a patient with T2D and HF | 27% (N=344) | P<.0001 | 14% (N=41) | P=.114 | |
| Identification of antihyperglycemic agents that have been shown to have positive CV effects | 16% (N=200) | P<.001 | 18% (N=78) | P=.006 | |
| Recognized blood pressure lowering as an extraglycemic effect of SGLT2 inhibitors | 13% (N=200) | P<.001 | 14% (N=78) | P=.003 | |
| Persistent knowledge/competence gaps | |||||
| Topic | PCP Gap (Percent incorrect) | Diab/endo Gap (Percent incorrect) | |||
| Knowledge of CVOT data | 40% (N=344) | 37% (N=41) | |||
| Therapeutic intensification strategy for T2D and CVD | 39% (N=344) | 15% (N=41) | |||
| Utilization of TZDs in patent with T2D and HF | 37% (N=344) | 15% (N=41) | |||
| Knowledge of CVOT data | 40% (n=200) | 37% (N=78) | |||
| Efficacy of antihyperglycemia therapies | 24% (n=200) | 14% (N=78) | |||
| PCPs baseline knowledge seen to be significantly lower than that of diabs/endos | |||||
| Topic | PCP Baseline Correct Responses | Diab/endo Baseline Correct Responses | P value | ||
| Avoidance of TZDs in patent with T2D and HF | 36% (N=344) | 71% (N=41) | P < 0.001 | ||
| Optimizing T2D therapy to meet cardiac-related goals | 47% (N=344) | 78% (N-41) | P < 0.001 | ||
| T2D treatment intensification in patient with CVD | 25% (N=344) | 54% (N=41) | P < 0.001 | ||
| Identification of blood pressure lowering as an extraglycemic effect of SGLT2 inhibitors | 49% (N=200) | 81% (N=78) | P < 0.001 | ||
| Significant overall improvements were seen post education | |||||
| Topic | PCP Change pre-to-post | P value | Diab/endo Change pre-to-post | P value | |
| Selection of liraglutide to treat a patient with T2D, CVD, and renal disease | 51% (N=344) | P<.0001 | 39% (N=41) | P<.0001 | |
| Recognition of TZDs as a bad therapeutic option in a patient with T2D and HF | 27% (N=344) | P<.0001 | 14% (N=41) | P=.114 | |
| Identification of antihyperglycemic agents that have been shown to have positive CV effects | 16% (N=200) | P<.001 | 18% (N=78) | P=.006 | |
| Recognized blood pressure lowering as an extraglycemic effect of SGLT2 inhibitors | 13% (N=200) | P<.001 | 14% (N=78) | P=.003 | |
| Persistent knowledge/competence gaps | |||||
| Topic | PCP Gap (Percent incorrect) | Diab/endo Gap (Percent incorrect) | |||
| Knowledge of CVOT data | 40% (N=344) | 37% (N=41) | |||
| Therapeutic intensification strategy for T2D and CVD | 39% (N=344) | 15% (N=41) | |||
| Utilization of TZDs in patent with T2D and HF | 37% (N=344) | 15% (N=41) | |||
| Knowledge of CVOT data | 40% (n=200) | 37% (N=78) | |||
| Efficacy of antihyperglycemia therapies | 24% (n=200) | 14% (N=78) | |||
This study demonstrates the success of an online curriculum with multiple educational components consisting of both video discussions and interactive text-based cases improving knowledge and competence of PCPs and diab/endos. Additional and persistent gaps were identified for future educational targets.
A. Larkin: None. M. LaCouture: None. A. Le: None.
