Knight Tara, Eley Susan
College of Health and Human Services, School of Nursing, Nursing Faculty, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, 47809, USA.
College of Health and Human Services, School of Nursing, Graduate Nursing Faculty, DNP Program Coordinator, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, 47809, USA.
Osteoporos Int. 2025 Aug;36(8):1417-1427. doi: 10.1007/s00198-025-07571-5. Epub 2025 Jul 15.
This study explores one aspect of the well-documented osteoporosis care gap, healthcare professionals' knowledge surrounding postmenopausal osteoporosis and how online continuing education could reduce knowledge deficiencies. With a large sample, findings clearly show the knowledge deficiency and offer insight on how online continuing education could help improve postmenopausal osteoporosis care.
Healthcare professionals' lack of knowledge on bone health contributes to a widening care gap in screening, diagnosing, and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). Using Medscape™, an online educational platform for healthcare professionals, this project explores (1) the baseline knowledge of PMO among participants, (2) if a PMO-focused continuing medical education (CME) could improve knowledge, and (3) how healthcare professionals reported changes in knowledge, competency, and potential practice changes following this educational module.
Using a one-hour CME titled Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: Closing the Care Gap digitally published to Medscape™ along with pre- and post-tests and a post-activity evaluation, data was collected May 9, 2024, and July 9, 2024, from this activity.
Of the 31,302-page viewers, 6083 healthcare professionals completed and were awarded CME certificates. There were 7731 pre-test participants and 6559 post-test participants. On the pre-test, 49.3% of participants answered at least one question incorrectly or as unsure, which would not result in a passing score of 75% or higher. On post-testing, 52.4% of participants received credit on their first attempt by answering all three questions correctly, while 97.1% achieved credit by their final attempt.
A statistically significant difference in correct responses was found when comparing pre- and final post-test data showing improved knowledge following this activity. Through self-declaration, improved competency and commitment to practice changes were conveyed based on knowledge gained. This study confirms more knowledge on PMO is needed among healthcare professionals to close the care gap and online CME may be an effective learning tool.
本研究探讨了有充分记录的骨质疏松症护理差距的一个方面，即医疗保健专业人员对绝经后骨质疏松症的了解，以及在线继续教育如何能够减少知识缺陷。通过大量样本，研究结果清楚地显示了知识缺陷，并就在线继续教育如何有助于改善绝经后骨质疏松症护理提供了见解。
医疗保健专业人员对骨骼健康缺乏了解，导致绝经后骨质疏松症（PMO）筛查、诊断和治疗方面的护理差距不断扩大。本项目利用面向医疗保健专业人员的在线教育平台Medscape™，探讨（1）参与者对PMO的基线知识，（2）以PMO为重点的继续医学教育（CME）是否能提高知识水平，以及（3）医疗保健专业人员在完成该教育模块后如何报告知识、能力的变化以及潜在的实践变化。
利用一个名为“绝经后骨质疏松症：弥合护理差距”的一小时CME，该课程以数字形式发布在Medscape™上，并配有课前和课后测试以及活动后评估，于2024年5月9日至2024年7月9日收集该活动的数据。
在31302名页面浏览者中，6083名医疗保健专业人员完成并获得了CME证书。有7731名课前测试参与者和6559名课后测试参与者。在课前测试中，49.3%的参与者至少答错一道题或回答不确定，这不会得到75%或更高的及格分数。在课后测试中，52.4%的参与者通过正确回答所有三道题在首次尝试时获得学分，而97.1%的参与者在最后一次尝试时获得学分。
比较课前和课后最终测试数据时，正确回答方面存在统计学上的显著差异，表明该活动后知识有所提高。通过自我申报，基于所学知识传达了能力的提高和对实践改变的承诺。本研究证实，医疗保健专业人员需要更多关于PMO的知识来弥合护理差距，在线CME可能是一种有效的学习工具。
