Keeping up with the literature: A current practice survey and qualitative needs assessment among emergency physicians
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Authors
Colmers-Gray, Isabelle
Solis Aguilar, Leandro
Gauri, Aliyah
Ha, David J.
Stauffer, Brandy A.
Date
2022-05-05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Keyword
Alternative Title
Abstract
Purpose
Physicians face the challenge of staying current with a rapidly growing body of evidence and applying it to their practice. How emergency physicians (EPs) do so is unknown. The authors sought to describe and assess needs around EP patterns of evidence based medicine (EBM) and continuing medical education (CME) resource use.
Methods
The authors conducted a multi-centre, cross-sectional study in 2019 across 12 tertiary care, community and suburban emergency department (ED) sites in the greater area of Edmonton. Information on EBM/CME resource use along with barriers and facilitators to staying current was gathered using a rigorously-developed survey tool, distributed electronically and by mail. Responses were tabulated and subgroups analyzed using MANOVA and ANOVA tests. Thematic analysis of comments used a phenomenological lens.
Results
One-hundred-eighteen EPs (40.1%) completed the survey. Listening to podcasts, attending EM conferences, and subscription-based resources were preferred for staying current. Resource use differed by years in practice but not by age, sex, training background or site type. EBM had an important impact on respondents’ practice (average rating 3.8 out of 5, with 5 indicating ‘practice changing’). Time was an important barrier. Most (62.7%) felt they did not spend enough time, despite spending a median of four to five hours monthly on EBM. Facilitators (including journal club summaries or lists of practice-relevant papers) had only moderate impacts. Thematic analysis found three themes (importance of EBM, implementation challenges and dissemination of EBM) and 13 subthemes.
Conclusion
EPs preferentially choose podcasts, conferences and subscription-based resources to stay current with EBM; time is the biggest barrier. These findings help ED leads and educators tailor CME to physician learning preferences, to maximize application of EBM to clinical practice. Next steps include developing/curating resources and disseminating the survey on a larger scale to identify opportunities for shared virtual resources.
Description
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Colmers-Gray, I.N., Solis Aguilar, L., Gauri, A., Ha, D.J. and Stauffer, B.A. (2022), Keeping up with the literature: A current practice survey and qualitative needs assessment among emergency physicians. AEM Education and Training. Accepted Author Manuscript e10761. https://doi.org/10.1002/aet2.10761, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/aet2.10761. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation.
Citation
Colmers-Gray, I.N., Solis Aguilar, L., Gauri, A., Ha, D.J. and Stauffer, B.A. (2022), Keeping up with the literature: A current practice survey and qualitative needs assessment among emergency physicians. AEM Education and Training. Accepted Author Manuscript e10761. https://doi.org/10.1002/aet2.10761
Publisher
Wiley