Efficacy of Mandatory Continuing Education

ABSTRACT

Individuals engaged in a profession are expected to participate in continuing education (CE) to acquire updated knowledge and skills that in turn ensure patient safety. State licensing boards are charged with protecting the safety (including that related to health care) of individuals residing in the state. To this end, most of the state licensing boards involved in regulating the practice of audiology have implemented varying degrees of mandatory CE. This article provides a systematic review of data examining the relationships among mandatory CE, practitioner knowledge and behavior, and patient outcomes. This article also discusses contemporary issues in audiology CE in light of the evidence from the systematic review.

KEYWORDS

Mandatory continuing education - adult learning - licensure

REFERENCES

• 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics .Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Audiologists. 2004: Available at: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos085.htm Accessed July 10, 2005
• 2 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) .National guidelines clearinghouse. http://2001: Available at: www.guideline.gov Accessed February 7, 2006
• 3 McKibbon A, Eady A, Mark S. PDQ Evidence-Based Principles and Practice. Hamilton, Canada; BC Decker 1999
• 4 Jones J M, James J, Rodin G, Atton P. The evaluation of a two-day interdisciplinary continuing education event in psychosocial oncology.  J Cancer Educ. 2004;  19(3) 161-164
• 5 Yeh S H, Hsiao C Y, Ho T H et al.. The effects of continuing education in restraint reduction on novice nurses in intensive care units.  J Nurs Res. 2004;  12(3) 246-256
• 6 Parochka J, Paprockas K. A continuing medical education lecture and workshop, physician behavior, and barriers to change.  J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2001;  21(2) 110-116
• 7 Brazen L. Outcomes research on one continuing education activity.  AORN J. 1995;  62(1) 92-100
• 8 May F W, Rowett D S, Gilbert A L, McNeece J I, Hurley E. Outcomes of an educational-outreach service for community medical practitioners: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.  Med J Aust. 1999;  170(10) 471-474
• 9 Clarke T, Abbenbroek B, Hardy L. The impact of a high dependency unit continuing education program on nursing practice and patient outcomes.  Aust Crit Care. 1996;  9(4) 138-147, 149
• 10 Gill K P, Ursic P. The impact of continuing education on patient outcomes in the elderly hip fracture population.  J Contin Educ Nurs. 1994;  25(4) 181-185
• 11 Maiman L A, Becker M H, Liptak G S, Nazarian L F, Rounds K A. Improving pediatricians' compliance-enhancing practices. A randomized trial.  Am J Dis Child. 1988;  142(7) 773-779
• 12 Smith J E. Exploring the efficacy of continuing education mandates.  JONAS Healthc Law Ethics Regul. 2004;  6(1) 22-31
• 13 Davis D, O'Brien M A, Freemantle N, Wolf F M, Mazmanian P, Taylor-Vaisey A. Impact of formal continuing medical education: do conferences, workshops, rounds, and other traditional continuing education activities change physician behavior or health care outcomes?.  JAMA. 1999;  282(9) 867-874
• 14 EBM Reviews . Systematic practice-based interventions are better than conferences for improving professional practice.  ACP J Club. 1996;  124 22
• 15 EBM Reviews . Review: educational outreach visits combined with additional interventions reduce inappropriate prescribing by physicians.  Evid Based Med. 1998;  3 128
• 16 EBM Reviews . Review: effectiveness of local opinion leaders varies.  ACP J Club. 1998;  128 23
• 17 EBM Reviews . Continuing medical education: a review.  ACP J Club. 1993;  118 57
• 18 O'Brien T, Oxman A D, Davis D A, Haynes R B, Freemantle N, Harvey E L. Educational outreach visits.  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;  1
• 19 Sibley J C, Sackett D L, Neufeld V, Gerrard B, Rudnick K V, Fraser W. A randomized trial of continuing medical education.  N Engl J Med. 1999;  306(9) 511-515
• 20 Waddell D L. Why do nurses participate in CE? A meta-analysis.  J Contin Educ Nurs. 1993;  24(2) 52-56
• 21 Browner W S, Baron R B, Solkowitz S, Adler L J, Gullion D S. Physician management of hypercholesterolemia. A randomized trial of continuing medical education.  Western J Med. 1994;  161(6) 572-578
• 22 Freemantle N, Harvey E L, Wolf F, Grimshaw J M, Grilli R, Bero L A. Printed educational materials.  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;  1
• 23 Gunn I P. Regulation of health care professionals, Part 2: Validation of continued competence.  CRNA. 1999;  10(3) 135-141
• 24 Office of the Professions New York State Education Department .Professional engineering and land surveying. Continuing education. http://2005: Available at: www.op.nsed.gov/peceques.htm Accessed January 15, 2007
• 25 Lazarus J B, Permaloff A, Dickson C J. Evaluation of Alabama's mandatory continuing education program for reasonableness, access and value.  J Contin Educ Nurs. 2002;  33(3) 102-111
• 26 Gamble v Bd. of Osteopathic Examiners, 21 C2d 215 (1942). California Superior Court
• 27 DeHaven M M. Compliance with mandatory continuing education in nursing: a hospital-based study.  J Contin Educ Nurs. 1990;  21(3) 102-104
• 28 University of California at San Francisco .Pew Health Profession Commission (on-line). http://2000: Available at: www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu Accessed January 17, 2007
• 29 American Academy of Audiology Code of Ethics .http://2005: Available at: www.audiology.org Accessed January 15, 2007
• 30 Johnson C E, Danhauer J L, Reith A C, Latiolais L N. A survey of audiologists and continuing education.  Semin Hear. 2007;  28 3-16
• 31 Waddell D L. Measurement issues in promoting continued competence.  J Contin Educ Nurs. 2001;  32(3) 102-106
• 32 Zubieni J. Mandatory continuing education for nurses repealed in Colorado. Issues. http://1994: Available at: www.nesbn.org/search/documents/accurfacts/issues/cnted294 Accessed January 15, 2007
• 33 Pascoe D. Clinical implications of nonverbal methods of hearing aid selection and fitting.  Semin Hear. 1980;  1 217-229