Micro learning-based education in Fabry disease significantly improves physician confidence
2Nephrology and Hypertension Department, IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, School of Medicine, UAM, Spain
3Lysosomal Storage Disorders Unit, Department of Haematology, University College London, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Background
There continues to be a long diagnostic delay of Fabry disease (FD), due to the rarity, nonspecific signs and symptoms, and unfamiliarity with this condition, suggesting a need for continuing education to help physicians identify these patients earlier.
Methods
A collection of six 5-7-minute online CME chapters about FD were developed, allowing physicians to select topics of interest to them[1]. The educational effects were evaluated using a confidence-based, repeated pairs, pre-assessment/post-assessment study design. Differences from pre- to post-assessment were evaluated using the McNemar’s test. P <.05 is the significance level.
Results
Overall, significant improvements in the proportion of correct answers selected confidently were achieved after participation for both cardiologists (average correct and confident response rate: 32% pre-assessment vs 67% post-assessment; P<.001, N=277), and nephrologists (average correct and confident response rate: 44% pre-assessment vs 70% post-assessment; P<.001, N=66).
Among specific questions, significant improvements were observed in physicians confidently
· Identifying early FD symptoms as well as differences between female and male patients
· Understanding the renal consequences of FD
· Selecting the appropriate test to confirm a FD diagnosis
· Identifying the mechanisms of current treatment approaches
· Understanding the inheritance genetics of FD
Conclusions
This study demonstrates the success of online, micro learning-based CME in improving participants` knowledge, competence, and confidence across important aspects of FD. Confidence improvement has been shown to positively correlate with an intention to make practice changes [2], suggesting that activity participants are likely to apply what they learned in their practice. This could lead to earlier diagnosis and referral, enabling earlier treatment to prevent end-organ damage.
References
1. Robert J. Desnick, PhD, MD; Derralynn Hughes, MD; Alberto Ortiz, MD, PhD; Michael Beck, MD. Recognizing Fabry Disease: What Every Clinician Should Know; Launched: Nov 28 2022. Data as of Apr 7, 2023. Available at www.medscape.org/viewarticle/981334
2. Lucero KS, Chen P. What do reinforcement and confidence have to do with it? a systematic pathway analysis of knowledge, competence, confidence, and intention to change. J Eur CME. 2020;9:1834759
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