A continuing medical education program was implemented and evaluated in 16 community hospitals. It was targeted at primary-care physicians and used physicians identified by their peers as being educationally influential for the dissemination of information. Self-study materials were used, followed by an intensive 2-wk preceptorship that resulted in a significant increase in physician knowledge. Inpatient chart audits identified a series of changes in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the intervention hospitals that were not noted in the control hospitals. These included the increased use of intravenously administered fluids, loading doses of intravenously administered bronchodilators, aerosolized and single agent bronchodilators, and respiratory therapy services. Continuing medical education, delivered through community-based educationally influential physicians, is an effective way of changing physician behavior in small communities with no prior ongoing educational programs. This approach should improve patient care and may reduce the need for participation of academic faculty in traditional continuing education programs.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗

PubMed1980

Impact of an education program on perinatal care practices.

Education of health professionals has an important role in improving health care. A media-based, self-instructional, perinatal education program was developed and field tested in rural and urban regions of Michigan. Cognitive tests, chart audits, and consultation/referral times were used to measure the impact on education and patient care. The program effectively increased knowledge and improved patient care practices by physicians and nurses. This study presents evidence that a targeted educational program in a media-based format can significantly improve perinatal care.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1979

Development and evaluation of a community-based pulmonary education system.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗

PubMed1976

A senior-year experience similar to an internship.

A senior year experience similar to an internship was initiated in community hospitals. It is designed to shorten the overall length of training and to restore a broad-based clinical experience to the period of "intermediate patient care responsibility" in the training of new physicians. The program provides students with an opportunity to observe and practice in a primary care setting and expands the clinical resources of the medical school. Analysis of the performance of students in the class of 1974 indicates that they perform on a level comparable with first-year house officers. This program provides a general clinical experience for those students who have not yet decided on future training plans or who are going into primary care fields.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed1976