Late Breaking Poster Abstract

Continuing Medical Education in Saudi Arabia: Experiences and Perception of Participants (P121)

Mohammad Alkhazim (College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science); Alaa Thubaiti (College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences); Taha Ismaeil (College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science); Manal Alnasser (Post graduate Center, Kind Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences)

Abstract

Learning and continuing development are parts of health practitioner’s commitment to professionalism. It furnishes the means to maintain the practitioner’s ability to provide quality and safe patient care. Continuous Medical Education (CME) is growing fast in Saudi Arabia; during 2010, 41548 CME hours that spreads over 5511 CME activities were approved. However, CME experiences and practices in Saudi has not been addressed, studied or documented as it should be.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the perception of attendees of CME in Saudi Arabia regarding different aspects of its practices and preferences.

Methods

A survey composed of demographic questions, habits of reading, and other 25 related item instrument were developed for the participants of CME. Participants were asked to indicate the extents to which they agreed or disagreed with each of the item on a 5-point Likert scale. 601 surveys were analyzed using SPSS version 16 for Windows. The responses of each item in the questionnaire were compared on the basis of demographic variables using Mann-Whitney’s U test and Wilcoxon’s signed ranks. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant

Frequency (%) of disagreement, neutral and agreement levels on
general opinions about CME across the sample.
Generally Speaking about CME Disagree Neutral Strongly Agree
It is a waste of time 491( 82.5%) 53 (8.9%) 51 (8.6%)
It is desirable for all specialties 78 (13.7%) 69 (12.1%) 422 (74.2%)
I am broadly familiar with methods of CME in
my own specialty
82 (14.0%) 185 (31.6%) 319 (54.4%)
It should be based on the individual’s assessed needs 74 (13.2%) 116 (20.8%) 369 (66.0%)
It is effective in retention of knowledge 45 (7.7%) 75 (12.8%) 468 (79.5%)
It is effective in improving attitude 39 (6.9%) 83 (14.6%) 445 (78.5%)
It is effective in improving clinical / academic skills 28 (4.8%) 58 (9.9%) 500 (85.3%)
It is effective in improving managerial /
administrative skills
44 (7.8%) 105 (18.5%) 418 (73.7%)
It is effective in improving clinical practice outcomes 35 (6.1%) 75 (13.0%) 467 (80.9%)
The main drive for attending CME is the requirement for Accreditation 162 (28.0%) 140 (24.3%) 275 (47.7%)
The main drive for attending CME is to have
sometime out of work
329 (56.6%) 117 (20.1%) 135 (23.3%)

Conclusion

This is the first of its type study that explores CME practice extensively in Saudi Arabia. The healthcare practitioners acknowledged the importance of CME in improving their knowledge, attitudes, clinical and academic skills, improving their clinical practice outcomes. A second part of the study (in progress) is to describe the methods of regulating and conducting CME in Saudi Arabia.