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Teaching physicians geriatric principles: a randomized control trial on academic detailing plus printed materials
1Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Hospital & Health Sciences Centre, Canada. rymwong@interchange.ubc.ca
Summary
Academic detailing combined with printed materials significantly improved geriatric knowledge retention in physicians compared to printed materials alone. This educational intervention enhanced long-term recall of geriatric medicine principles.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Geriatric Medicine
- Knowledge Translation
Background:
- Assessing the impact of educational strategies on physician knowledge in geriatrics.
- Comparing academic detailing with printed materials versus printed materials alone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of academic detailing plus printed materials in enhancing geriatric knowledge retention among physicians.
- To determine if this combined approach improves knowledge recall more than educational materials alone.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial with 31 physicians assigned to receive academic detailing plus printed materials or printed materials only.
- Knowledge retention measured using a 5-item questionnaire from the Geriatrics Knowledge Test at baseline, 1 week, and approximately 29 weeks.
- Intervention group received an additional 15-minute one-on-one session with a geriatrician.
Main Results:
- Physicians receiving academic detailing plus printed materials showed significantly higher knowledge scores at 29 weeks compared to the control group (4.7 vs. 3.9, p = .034).
- The intervention group demonstrated a greater mean knowledge score change from baseline (1.1) than the control group (0.0, p = .053).
- Overall mean knowledge scores decreased from baseline to 1 week (p = .006), indicating initial forgetting.
Conclusions:
- Academic detailing, when combined with printed educational materials, is an effective strategy for improving and retaining geriatric knowledge among physicians.
- Printed materials alone were insufficient to significantly improve or maintain geriatric knowledge over the long term.