Exploring educational needs of multiple sclerosis care providers: Results of a care-provider survey.
| Title | Exploring educational needs of multiple sclerosis care providers: Results of a care-provider survey. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| 2006 | |
| Authors | Turner AP, Martin C, Williams RM, Goudreau K, Bowen JD, Hatzakis M, Whitham RH, Bourdette DN, Walker L, Haselkorn JK |
| Journal | Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 25-34 |
| Date Published | 2006 Jan-Feb |
| ISSN | 1938-1352 |
| Clinical Competence, Education, Medical, Continuing, Education, Nursing, Continuing, Female, Health Care Surveys, Health Personnel, Hospitals, Veterans, Humans, Interprofessional Relations, Long-Term Care, Male, Multiple Sclerosis, Needs Assessment, Patient Care Team, Probability, Quality Assurance, Health Care, Risk Factors, United States, United States Department of Veterans Affairs | |
Our objective was to survey experienced multiple sclerosis (MS) care providers, determine their ongoing professional educational needs, and develop future education programs. We asked providers across a variety of disciplines to identify the areas in which clinical consultation and continuing medical education (CME) would most improve their ability to provide care to individuals with MS; their preferred education modalities; and their confidence in providing care related to disease-modifying agents (DMAs), fatigue, depression, spasticity, and bladder management. At a national meeting of MS professionals, 152 MS care providers completed a self-report survey that was designed for this cross-sectional cohort study. Areas of greatest interest for clinical consultation and CME were identical and included cognition, fatigue, DMA use, spasticity, pain, sex, diagnosis of MS, and depression. Participants expressed a preference for live and interactive CME modalities. Confidence in providing specific disease-related care sometimes differed between Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA providers. The results indicate that clinical consultations and CME should be targeted to the topics of greatest interest identified by providers and delivered in a live or interactive modality whenever possible. |
