Improving pediatricians' compliance-enhancing practices. A randomized trial
L. A. Maiman, M. H. Becker, G. S. Liptak, L. F. Nazarian and K. A. Rounds
Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester (NY) School of Medicine and Dentistry 14642.
Previous evaluations of continuing medical education (CME) have yielded
conflicting results regarding its effects on physician knowledge,
performance, and subsequent patient outcomes. Poor adherence by mothers to
prescribed pediatric regimens is a separate, but well-documented, problem.
In the present study we assessed the ability of CME to: (1) increase the
knowledge of pediatricians about compliance-enhancing strategies; (2)
increase the performance of these practices by pediatricians; and (3)
improve mothers' compliance with antibiotic regimens for their children's
otitis media. Ninety pediatricians were randomly assigned to either a
control group or one of two CME interventions: tutorial plus printed
materials or mailed printed materials only. Following the interventions,
data on compliance and on reported behaviors of pediatricians were gathered
from a random sample of mothers (N = 771) whose children were being treated
for otitis media. Findings indicated that CME increased physician knowledge
and compliance-enhancing practices and resulted in improvement in mothers'
adherence to therapy.
