The Impact of Web-based Continuing Medical Education Using Patient Simulation on Real-world Treatment Selection in Type 2 Diabetes: Retrospective Case-control Analysis

JMIR Medical Education (08/29/23) Vol. 9 Lucero, Katie Stringer; Larkin, Amy; Zakharkin, Stanislav; et al.

Researchers explored the impact of web-based continuing medical education (CME) simulation on physicians' choices of cardioprotective antihyperglycemic treatments for Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in real-world clinical practice. The two-phase study framework concentrated on decision-making within the MedSims patient simulation and real-world treatment decisions. A total 1,580 U.S. physicians participated, of whom 435 made at least one decision, received feedback in a secondary cardiovascular (CV) event prevention case, and were included in Phase I. Participants in the Phase II intervention included 157 of the 435 physicians who had claims data available for the study period from July 21 to Oct. 31, 2021. Learners in the CME simulation could order any tests to assess T2D patients, meeting their learning objectives by ordering tests and selecting appropriate treatments for preventing secondary CV events. Phase I participants saw a 10-percentage-point gain in correct pre- to postfeedback responses for assessing glycemic control and CV risk and a 29-percentage-point increase in correct responses for selecting treatment that covers glycemic control and CV event protection. Phase II outcomes indicated that 39 of 157 intervention-group clinicians increased their administration of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) with T2D patients compared with 20 of 157 clinicians in the comparison group. The intervention group was also 4.2 times more likely to use GLP-1 RAs for T2D patients than the comparison group. "Our results suggest that education for endocrinologists should emphasize familiarity with the use of GLP-1 RAs and recognition of patients who would benefit; for [primary care providers], education should aim to improve familiarity with use and comfort with injection," the researchers concluded.

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