Proposal for a continuing medical education e-learning programme based on cochrane systematic reviews

Objective: To design and pilot a Continuing Medical Education e-learning programme based on Cochrane systematic reviews. Our previous experience provided us a positive background to develop educational distance òearning intervention using standardized clinical vignettes to assess knowledge and to influence clinical practice. Summary: In the first part we will present the Italian Cochrane Centre’s experience within a national e-learning programme. The programme has several elements: the translation and provision of a free copy of Clinical Evidence to all Italian physicians (n=248000); and the development of a free-access e-learning system (ECCE) for continuing medical education (CME), based on Clinical Evidence. Via ECCE doctors voluntarily subscribed to ECCE (11.8%). To have a better insight of this experience, please refer to: L. Moja, I. moschetti. A. Liberati et al. (2007) Using Clinical Evidence in a national continuing medical education programme in Italy. PLoS Med 4(5): e113. In the second part of the workshop participants will be asked to discuss the feasibility of a CME programme based on Cochrane systematic reviews (SRs). Issues to be discussed are related to both organizational and methodological aspects: differences in CME legislation across countries; potential health professional targets, policies of access, how to transform a free from passion SR into a entertaining patient story, and how to involve SR authors in writing clinical vignettes. In the last part of the workshop we will discuss if an e-learning programme may help the rapid dissemination of pivotal Cochrane SRs. The use of written case simulation transforms passive reading into a more interactive learning experience. We anticipated that such a CME programme could be an importante step in bringing evidence based medicine to the forefront of health professionals’ practice. Intended audience: Representatives of Cochrane centres, branches and other entities who may have editorial interest in publishing e-learning educational programmes based on systematic review to target mass audiences. Intermediate knowledge of Cochrane reviews and evidence-based medicine teaching is expected.