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Volume 18 (2)
Volume 18, Issue 2, Spring 1998
J Contin Educ Health Prof 1998; 18(2):107-118
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Type of Clinical Problem Is a Determinant of Physicians’ Self-Selected Learning Methods in Their Practice Settings
Jacqueline McClaran, MD, FCFPC
Linda Snell, MD, MHPE, FRCPC, FACP
Eliane Franco, MD, MPH
A b s t r a c t
While much research has been written about physician-preferred learning methods
and self-directed learning, no published study describes the physician’s self-selected
learning methods specific to problems arising in his practice. Study subjects were 366 primary
care physicians asked to describe a recent clinical problem for which they needed more
knowledge or skill to solve. For the specific problem of his/her own patient, each physician
was asked how he/she gained the specific ability to solve the problem. Fifty-five learning methods
were described by the study population and were categorized as three outcome variables:
reading and related activity, 47.8% of study subject responses, formal and informal consultation
and/or referral (33.3%), and formal continuing medical education (CME) (18.9%).
Analysis for risk similarities led to progressive recombination of 64 problem categories to two
predictive variables: clinical problems requiring more knowledge and clinical problems requiring
more technical or communication skill to solve. Multiple logistic regression was carried
out. The final predictive model revealed that of the factors studied, problem type was the major
determinant of self-selected learning method in the practice setting. While reading is the most
frequently selected method overall, physicians are more likely to select formal CME when the
problem requires more technical expertise or communication ability to solve (odds ratio =
2.31, confidence interval = 1.25–4.25). Region and year of graduation added only slightly to
the model. Gender, certification, and size of town did not add to the predictive model. CME
providers must be aware of physicians’ practice-based choices of learning method and incorporate
this into their CME activities.
Keywords: Clinical Problem; Continuing Medical Education; Learning Methods; Practice Setting
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