ERIC Number: EJ926812
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0894-1912
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Can Outcome-Based Continuing Medical Education Improve Performance of Immigrant Physicians?
Castel, Orit Cohen; Ezra, Vered; Alperin, Mordechai; Nave, Rachel; Porat, Tamar; Golan, Avivit Cohen; Vinker, Shlomo; Karkabi, Khaled
Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, v31 n1 p34-42 Win 2011
Introduction: Immigrant physicians are a valued resource for physician workforces in many countries. Few studies have explored the education and training needs of immigrant physicians and ways to facilitate their integration into the health care system in which they work. Using an educational program developed for immigrant civilian physicians working in military primary care clinics at the Israel Defence Force, we illustrate how an outcome-based CME program can address practicing physicians' needs for military-specific primary care education and improve patient care. Methods: Following an extensive needs assessment, a 3-year curriculum was developed. The curriculum was delivered by a multidisciplinary educational team. Pre/post multiple-choice examinations, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE), and end-of-program evaluations were administered for curriculum evaluation. To evaluate change in learners' performance, data from the 2003 (before-program) and 2006 (after-program) work-based assessments were retrieved retrospectively. Change in the performance of program participants was compared with that of immigrant physicians who did not participate in the program. Results: Out of 28 learners, 23 (82%) completed the program. Learners did significantly better in the annual post-tests compared with the pretests (p less than 0.01) and improved their OSCE scores (p less than 0.001). Most program graduates (90%) rated overall satisfaction as very good or excellent. In comparison with nonparticipants, program graduates performed better on work-based assessments (Cohen's d = 0.63). Discussion: Our intensive, outcome-based, longitudinal CME program has yielded encouraging results. Other medical educators, facing the challenge of integrating immigrant physicians to fit their health care system, may consider adapting our approach. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Professional Continuing Education, Medical Education, Educational Needs, Needs Assessment, Curriculum Evaluation, Physicians, Graduates, Pretests Posttests, Program Effectiveness, Foreign Countries, Immigrants, Military Personnel, Outcomes of Education, Primary Health Care
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Israel
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A