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Multicomponent Internet continuing medical education to promote chlamydia screening
Jeroan J Allison1, Catarina I Kiefe, Terry Wall
1Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 720 Faculty Office Tower, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-3407, USA. jallison@uab.edu
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|March 16, 2005
Summary
Innovative continuing medical education (CME) programs can improve low Chlamydia trachomatis screening rates. An internet-based multicomponent CME intervention successfully increased chlamydia screening among at-risk women.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Education
- Infectious Disease Prevention
Background:
- Low screening rates for Chlamydia trachomatis present a challenge in public health.
- Internet-based continuing medical education (CME) offers a potential solution, but its impact on physician practice patterns requires objective evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent Internet CME (mCME) intervention in increasing Chlamydia trachomatis screening rates among at-risk women aged 16-26.
- To assess the influence of tailored, behavior-change-theory-based online modules and office-level feedback on physician screening practices.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 191 primary care offices across 20 states.
- Intervention group received a tailored, four-module Internet CME program with real-time feedback.
- Comparison group received standard care. Screening rates were measured using Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) data from 2000 (pre-intervention) and 2002 (post-intervention).
Main Results:
- Pre-intervention Chlamydia trachomatis screening rates were 18.9% in intervention offices and 16.2% in comparison offices (p=0.135).
- Post-intervention screening rates were 15.5% in intervention offices and 12.4% in comparison offices (p=0.044, adjusted for baseline).
- The intervention group experienced a significantly attenuated decline in screening rates compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- The multicomponent Internet CME intervention positively impacted Chlamydia trachomatis screening practices by primary care physicians.
- This study demonstrates the efficacy of targeted online medical education in improving adherence to screening guidelines for sexually transmitted infections.