Professional Education Task Force Patrick Lyden, MDCollin Rorrie, PhD Susan Hickenbottom, MD, MSEd Sloan, MD, MPH Richard Atkinson, MDJudith Spilker, RN Lisa Davis, RN, MSNRobert Suter, DO, MHA Jeremy Golding, MDSteven Warach, MD, PhD Judith Hinchey, MD Kurt Kleinschmidt, MD Thomas Kwiatkowski, MD Christopher Lewandowski, MD

Principles of Adult Education Must be motivated to learn Need a relevant use for the knowledge or skill being sought Prefer learning concepts and principles Prefer an active curriculum that is learner-based Like feedback on their own performance

Deficiencies in Professional Education Ultimate goal of education is behavioral change Traditional continuing education methods alone have been found ineffective –Didactic lectures –Journal articles

Effectiveness of Interventions Most effective –Reminders (at point of service/need) –Patient-mediated strategies –Outreach visits –Opinion leaders –Multiple, sequenced interventions sustained over time Moderately effective –Audit and feedback –Educational material Least effective –Formal CME conferences or activities Davis, JAMA 1995;274:

Deficiencies in Professional Education Poorly targeted Narrowly focused Environmental barriers –Increased service requirements and decreased on-job time for learning/teaching –ED crowding –Nursing shortage and lack of nurse educators and mentors

Strategies for Improving Professional Education Audience Method Content Support

Strategies for Improving Professional Education: Audience Identify gaps in knowledge and performance (needs assessment) Target audiences with interventions appropriate to knowledge level EMS Physicians assistants Medical studentsNurse practitioners Nursing studentsPhysicians Residents Other health care providers Nurses

Strategies for Improving Professional Education: Method Change the approach to continuing education –Provide interactive learning opportunities May include introductory materials Case studies Web and PDA based –Multimodal activities sustained over time

Strategies for Improving Professional Education: Content Expand the content of acute stroke education –Soup to nuts approach Consistent and updated guidelines National organizations help to develop integrated stroke curricula

Strategies for Improving Professional Education: Support Institutional –Organizational buy-in Funding –Needs assessment –Validating and measuring adherence to guidelines –Evaluating effectiveness of educational interventions

Summary of Recommendations Content development Delivery consistent with educational principles Financial support for educational interventions