Jane L Phillips1, Nicole Heneka1,2, Priyanka Bhattarai2, Claire Fraser3, Tim Shaw4. 1. Centre for Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 2. School of Nursing, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 3. School of Nursing, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia. 4. Implementation Science and eHealth (RISe), Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Ensuring clinical practice reflects current evidence is challenging given the rapid proliferation of new knowledge. Changing entrenched clinical behaviours and facilitating the adoption of best practice evidence requires a range of strategies, including affordable, scalable and effective continuing professional development (CPD). Yet, identifying the CPD delivery method most likely to effectively change and improve patient outcomes is difficult given the variability in the evidence for different learning approaches. Although there is moderate level evidence for outreach education, audit and feedback, and face-to-face or online learning, little is known about the capacity of spaced education to change ineffective clinical practice(s). Spaced education harnesses the power of spacing, repetition and testing learning content to increase topic-specific knowledge. Although spaced education is widely used in undergraduate and postgraduate medical programmes, its effectiveness as a CPD delivery method that improves patient outcomes is less certain. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of the spaced education CPD programmes to change targeted clinical knowledge and practice(s) to improve patient outcomes. METHOD: A systematic review, appraising the spaced education CPD evidence generated from searching six specialist medical and psychosocial databases. Studies published in English peer-reviewed journals from 1 January, 2000 to 31 August, 2018 were eligible for inclusion. A modified Kirkpatrick four levels of evaluation framework assisted with appraising the effect of spaced education CPD interventions on clinicians and patients. RESULTS: Of the 2396 studies identified, 17 met the inclusion criteria, involving 2701 practising clinicians from multiple disciplines and specialties. Five randomised controlled trials generated level II evidence, with the remaining 12 studies generating lower levels of evidence. The majority of studies (n = 14) involved the delivery of online spaced education. All studies were evaluated using the modified Kirkpatrick four levels of evaluation framework with: 10 studies demonstrating significant increases in participants' knowledge; seven studies reporting significant changes in clinician behaviour; four studies showing significant increases in clinician confidence; and three studies identifying significant and sustained increases in participants' clinical skills. Only two studies reported positive improvements in patient outcomes. CONCLUSION: Spaced education via an online platform offers a scalable CPD format that can increase clinical knowledge and change practice. However, further adequately powered randomised controlled trials are required to confirm that spaced education CPD can impact positively on patients' reported outcomes.
CONTEXT: Ensuring clinical practice reflects current evidence is challenging given the rapid proliferation of new knowledge. Changing entrenched clinical behaviours and facilitating the adoption of best practice evidence requires a range of strategies, including affordable, scalable and effective continuing professional development (CPD). Yet, identifying the CPD delivery method most likely to effectively change and improve patient outcomes is difficult given the variability in the evidence for different learning approaches. Although there is moderate level evidence for outreach education, audit and feedback, and face-to-face or online learning, little is known about the capacity of spaced education to change ineffective clinical practice(s). Spaced education harnesses the power of spacing, repetition and testing learning content to increase topic-specific knowledge. Although spaced education is widely used in undergraduate and postgraduate medical programmes, its effectiveness as a CPD delivery method that improves patient outcomes is less certain. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of the spaced education CPD programmes to change targeted clinical knowledge and practice(s) to improve patient outcomes. METHOD: A systematic review, appraising the spaced education CPD evidence generated from searching six specialist medical and psychosocial databases. Studies published in English peer-reviewed journals from 1 January, 2000 to 31 August, 2018 were eligible for inclusion. A modified Kirkpatrick four levels of evaluation framework assisted with appraising the effect of spaced education CPD interventions on clinicians and patients. RESULTS: Of the 2396 studies identified, 17 met the inclusion criteria, involving 2701 practising clinicians from multiple disciplines and specialties. Five randomised controlled trials generated level II evidence, with the remaining 12 studies generating lower levels of evidence. The majority of studies (n = 14) involved the delivery of online spaced education. All studies were evaluated using the modified Kirkpatrick four levels of evaluation framework with: 10 studies demonstrating significant increases in participants' knowledge; seven studies reporting significant changes in clinician behaviour; four studies showing significant increases in clinician confidence; and three studies identifying significant and sustained increases in participants' clinical skills. Only two studies reported positive improvements in patient outcomes. CONCLUSION: Spaced education via an online platform offers a scalable CPD format that can increase clinical knowledge and change practice. However, further adequately powered randomised controlled trials are required to confirm that spaced education CPD can impact positively on patients' reported outcomes.
Authors: Matthew D McEvoy; Leslie C Fowler; Amy Robertson; Brian J Gelfand; Geoffrey M Fleming; Bonnie Miller; Donald Moore Journal: J Educ Perioper Med Date: 2021-07-01
Authors: Danielle Pollock; Ellen L Davies; Micah D J Peters; Andrea C Tricco; Lyndsay Alexander; Patricia McInerney; Christina M Godfrey; Hanan Khalil; Zachary Munn Journal: J Adv Nurs Date: 2021-02-04 Impact factor: 3.187
Authors: Melanie R Lovell; Jane L Phillips; Tim Luckett; Lawrence Lam; Frances M Boyle; Patricia M Davidson; Seong L Cheah; Nicola McCaffrey; David C Currow; Tim Shaw; Annmarie Hosie; Bogda Koczwara; Stephen Clarke; Jessica Lee; Martin R Stockler; Caitlin Sheehan; Odette Spruijt; Katherine Allsopp; Alexandra Clinch; Katherine Clark; Alison Read; Meera Agar Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-02-01
Authors: Matthew D McEvoy; Mary Lynn Dear; Reagan Buie; David A Edwards; Tyler W Barrett; Brian Allen; Amy C Robertson; Leslie C Fowler; Cassandra Hennessy; Bonnie M Miller; Kim V Garvey; Robert P Bland; Geoffrey M Fleming; Don Moore; Todd W Rice; Gordon R Bernard; Christopher J Lindsell Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-07-01
Authors: Mark D Orland; Michael J Patetta; Michael Wieser; Erdan Kayupov; Mark H Gonzalez Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2020-09 Impact factor: 4.755
Authors: Marjolein Versteeg; Renée A Hendriks; Aliki Thomas; Belinda W C Ommering; Paul Steendijk Journal: Med Educ Date: 2019-12-20 Impact factor: 6.251