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Volume 19 (3)
Volume 19, Issue 3, Summer 1999
J Contin Educ Health Prof 1999; 19(3):152-162
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
A Study of the Educationally Influential Physician
David M. Kaufman, EdD
Kurt Ryan, BSc, BPharm
Ian Hodder, BSc (HE)
A b s t r a c t
This study assessed the existence, role, and impact of educationally influential (EI)
physicians to determine how to use them more effectively in the dissemination of information
to their peers. A random sample of 172 family physicians was drawn from across the Canadian
province of Nova Scotia. A survey questionnaire was developed based on previous research
reported in the literature. Due to a postal strike, a courier service was used to deliver and collect
the questionnaires at family physicians’ offices. Three focus groups also were conducted:
two with family physicians and one with identified EI physicians. EI physicians exist and play
an essential role in health care. They possess two sets of attributes: (1) expertise and currency
of knowledge, and (2) good interpersonal skills, which enable them to communicate effectively
with their peers. Family physicians approached EI physicians if they knew them through inter-action
with hospital departments. Only 20% of family physicians used e-mail and 40% used
the Internet for accessing medical information. Family physicians reported that the information
received from EI physicians helps in choosing among treatment options, extends their
knowledge base, provides peer validation of innovative information in the scientific literature,
and positively affects patient outcomes. The majority reported that health care reform had a
negative effect on communication with EI physicians. No important differences were found
between the responses of urban and rural family physicians. Methods should be implemented
and evaluated to use EI physicians for CME and to help family physicians improve the outcomes
of patient care.
Keywords: Continuing Medical Education; Educational Influentials; Educational
Research; Family Physicians; General Practitioners; Opinion Leaders; Survey
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