Rheumatology Continuing Professional Development for Primary Care Clinicians: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Introduction: A 2015 workforce study conducted by the American College of Rheumatology estimated that in 2030, the United States (US) alone will have a shortage of about 4,700 rheumatologists. As such, primary care clinicians (PCCs) may find themselves taking the initial steps to diagnose and treat some rheumatologic disorders. PCCs can participate in rheumatology focused continuing professional development (CPD), which may help mitigate this shortfall. However, there is no recent synthesis of the literature describing these initiatives or their efficacy. This risks the use of suboptimal instructional methods and missed opportunities for providers. Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review of CPD focused on rheumatology topics for PCCs. A librarian systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ERIC, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Studies were limited to those conducted in North America after 1993. An extraction form that included the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument was created through an iterative process and applied to the included articles. Results: 725 articles were retrieved, of which nine were included. Results showed that CPD was directed more at non-inflammatory arthritis than inflammatory arthritis. Four studies partially focused on teaching arthrocentesis. Autoimmune diseases were underrepresented; four studies discussed rheumatoid arthritis, and one additional study examined rheumatologic topics broadly. Newer research tended to include multi-modal approaches that combined strategies (such as didactics and active learning), whereas older research was less focused on interactive learning showing an evolution towards more active learning. Though online learning is increasingly popular, interventions were predominantly face-to-face with only a single example of e-learning. Studies were predominantly of moderate quality.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1212250
Entities
People
- Rachel C. Robbins
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences