VIRTUAL CONTINUING EDUCATION IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

Résumé fourni par la source

ASCVD/CVD Risk Assessment This study examined whether online continuing medical education (CME) focused on evidence-based best practices for image-guided cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment to guide primary CV prevention strategies would result in the adoption of new clinical practices to enhance guideline directed risk assessment and appropriate treatment. Clinicians participated in 15-minute segmented online multi-media activity consisting of videos portraying realistic physician-patient interactions followed by expert commentaries. Performance in the real world was assessed 30-60 days post-education for learners in the target audience(s). Learners in the first 3 months were invited to complete a survey identifying practice changes and the degree to which clinicians experience barriers to those changes. Each respondent reported for each possible practice whether they were a) implementing for the first time or had modified it due to education, b) already doing it prior to education, or c) not doing it before or after education. They also indicated barriers they experience at least “some” of the time for each practice. The activity posted on 6/21/2024. Data collection ended on October 25, 2024. There was a total of 62 learners consisting of primary care physicians (PCPs), cardiologists, and diabetologist/endocrinologists who completed the survey. Analysis showed that 92% of learners made a practice change or had practices reinforced due to education. The top practice changes included: • 68% of respondents are now using coronary calcium (CAC) scoring for CV risk assessment in the primary prevention setting • 63% of respondents are now using image-guided risk assessment with CAC scoring and/or carotid ultrasound to guide selection of pharmacological strategies for primary CV prevention • 68% of respondents are now facilitating shared decision-making when communicating results of image-guided CV risk assessment and treatment decisions • 62% of respondents are now confident in their ability to identify patients who would benefit from image-based CV risk assessment to inform risk stratification and treatment Survey results evidence persistent barriers to practice changes • Lack of insurance coverage was identified as the top barrier to using image-guided risk assessment with CAC scoring and/or carotid ultrasound for CV risk assessment and selection of treatment in the primary prevention setting • Time, resource, or personnel constraints and lack of insurance coverage were the top barriers to facilitating shared decision-making with communication results of CV imaging The clinical practice changes identified in this assessment provide compelling evidence that participation in online CME prompts adoption of changes in practice related to image-guided CV risk assessment to guide primary prevention strategies. Future education is needed to address the barriers identified in this assessment.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.