Postmenopausal osteoporosis continuing education needed for healthcare professionals? A quality improvement project

This study explores one aspect of the well-documented osteoporosis care gap, healthcare professionals' knowledge surrounding postmenopausal osteoporosis and how online continuing education could reduce knowledge deficiencies. With a large sample, findings clearly show the knowledge deficiency and offer insight on how online continuing education could help improve postmenopausal osteoporosis care.

Healthcare professionals' lack of knowledge on bone health contributes to a widening care gap in screening, diagnosing, and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). Using Medscape™, an online educational platform for healthcare professionals, this project explores (1) the baseline knowledge of PMO among participants, (2) if a PMO-focused continuing medical education (CME) could improve knowledge, and (3) how healthcare professionals reported changes in knowledge, competency, and potential practice changes following this educational module.

Using a one-hour CME titled Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: Closing the Care Gap digitally published to Medscape™ along with pre- and post-tests and a post-activity evaluation, data was collected May 9, 2024, and July 9, 2024, from this activity.

Of the 31,302-page viewers, 6083 healthcare professionals completed and were awarded CME certificates. There were 7731 pre-test participants and 6559 post-test participants. On the pre-test, 49.3% of participants answered at least one question incorrectly or as unsure, which would not result in a passing score of 75% or higher. On post-testing, 52.4% of participants received credit on their first attempt by answering all three questions correctly, while 97.1% achieved credit by their final attempt.

A statistically significant difference in correct responses was found when comparing pre- and final post-test data showing improved knowledge following this activity. Through self-declaration, improved competency and commitment to practice changes were conveyed based on knowledge gained. This study confirms more knowledge on PMO is needed among healthcare professionals to close the care gap and online CME may be an effective learning tool.