Organizing an effective continuous medical education session

Abstract

Maintenance of professional competence remains an exercise of lifelong learning and an essential requirement for evidence -based medical practice. Physicians attend continuing medical education (CME) programs to update their knowledge. Often CME programs remain the main source of updating current information. CME organizers have considerable responsibility in determining appropriate curriculum for their meeting. Organizing an effective CME activity often requires understanding of the principles of adult education. Prior to deciding on the curriculum for a CME, course organizers should conduct needs assessment of physicians. CME planners need to be organize activities that would consistently improve physician competence. CME sessions that are interactive, using multiple methods of instructions for small groups of physicians from a single discipline are more likely to change physician knowledge and behavior. Effectiveness of a CME program should be evaluated at a level beyond measuring physician satisfaction. CME planners need to incorporate methods to determine the course attendees improvement of knowledge, skills and attitudes during the CME activities. Pre and post test of physicians using multiple choice questions form a useful method of assessment. Course organizers would need to ensure that the questions are appropriately constructed to assess the ability to use knowledge in real life situations.