Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions



HOME \| SITE MAP \| CONTACT US
Your Location: Home > Volume 24, Issue 4

CURRENT ISSUE BACK ISSUES SUBSCRIBE ADVERTISE ABOUT JCEHP FOR AUTHORS JCEHP AWARD SEARCH (Members only) FULL-TEXT		Volume 24 (4) Volume 24, Issue 4, Fall 2004 J Contin Educ Health Prof 2004; 24(4):213-226 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Identifying educationally influential specialists: issues arising from the use of "classic" criteria Wright FC Ryan DP Dodge JE Last LD Law CH Smith AJ A b s t r a c t Introduction: Educationally influential physicians (EIPs) are identified by their colleagues as people who (1) encourage learning and enjoy sharing their knowledge, (2) are clinical experts and always seem up to date, and (3) treat others as equals. We aimed to identify surgical and pathologist EIPs for colorectal cancer (CRC) in Ontario as part of a blended knowledge transfer program. Methods: A population-based cohort of surgeons (n=794) were sent surveys modeled on the Hiss method for identifying EIPs. Four formal mailings (including incentives) and telephone calls and faxes were completed. This labor-intensive process identified "general" EIPs and surgery or pathology EIPs for CRC. The characteristics of EIPs in these groups were studied. Results: The response rate was 41% for surgeons and 42% for pathologists. One hundred eighteen general EIPs were identified and substantially more surgical EIPs for CRC (n=63) than pathology EIPs for CRC (n=6) were recognized. Forty-two of 81 medical centers in Ontario identified an EIP. We also identified a cohort of "domain experts", physicians whose opinion was valued for CRC but who did not meet the Hiss EIP criteria. This cohort of "domain experts" was larger than the cohort of EIPs for CRC for both surgeons (63 vs. 154) and pathologists (6 vs. 154). Discussion: In this population study, we identified EIPs for CRC using the Hiss method, although significantly more surgical than pathology EIPs for CRC were recognized. The educational influence of domain experts who do no fulfill the Hiss characteristics compared with EIPs for CRC remains to be determined. Lessons for Practice Educationally influential physicians (EIPs) can be identified among specialist physicians. Criteria traditionally used for identifying educationally influential generalist physicians may have shortcomings when applied to specialist physicians. The Hiss criteria may reflect inadequately the attributes relevant in an educationally influential specialist physician. Domain experts, influential physicians who do not meet the Hiss criteria but who have valued opinions on colorectal cancer, were identified. MeSH Terms: Aged; Cohort Studies; Colorectal Neoplasms; Education, Medical, Continuing; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Interprofessional Relations; Leadership; Physician's Practice Patterns; Physician's Role; Questionnaires
HOME \| SITE MAP \| CONTACT US Copyright © 1996-2012 JCEHP.com & The Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions All rights reserved Disclaimer · About This Site · Web Editor · Make JCEHP Your Homepage Information on this site was last updated: 31 January 2012