Impact on Knowledge, Competence and Performance of a Faculty-led Web-based Educational Activity for Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

JMIR Formative Research (09/12/23) Vol. 7 Okemah, Jennifer; Neunie, Sola; Noble, Alexander; et al.

Researchers evaluated how a faculty-led online continuing medical education (CME)-accredited activity for managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity shaped knowledge, competence and self-reported performance among participating health care professionals (HCPs). The touchMDT (multidisciplinary team) activity included three short videos in which MDT members discussed their roles in managing T2D and T2D+obesity patients. The authors assessed Moore's expanded outcomes framework (levels 1-5): participation, satisfaction, knowledge, competence and performance. Overall satisfaction among the 8,159 participants in levels 1 and 2 was 89%, with satisfaction scores ranging from 4.3 to 4.7 out of 5.0. Fifty respondents and 50 learners completed the level 3-4 questionnaire before and after the activity, respectively. Participants answered a significantly higher mean number of questions correctly after the activity. The authors noted non-significant improvements in self-reported performance from pre- to post-activity as well as more intense post-activity patient treatment. Metformin monotherapy and dual therapy with metformin plus injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist were the most common preactivity regimens, which changed to dual therapy and metformin plus injectable GLP-1 RA and triple therapy with metformin plus injectable GLP-1 RA plus sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor afterwards. The authors also estimated more referrals to a combination of specialists from pre- to post-activity. Understanding the biology and psychology of obesity, effectiveness and safety data for incretin-based dual agonists and how diabetes educators or diabetes care and education specialists contribute to T2D and obesity management remained educational gaps. The researchers highlighted the need for additional research to characterize CME's clinical impact, "particularly regarding the long-term impact of education on HCP performance and the benefits for patient and community health."

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