Below are the citation, abstract and selected extracts from a new paper in the Postgraduate Medical Journal. The full text is freely available here:

http://pmj.bmj.com/content/91/1072/83.full

Postgrad Med J 2015;91:83-91 doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2014-132965

Review: Point of care information services: a platform for self-directed continuing medical education for front line decision makers.

Lorenzo Moja, Koren Hyogene Kwag.

ABSTRACT

The structure and aim of continuing medical education (CME) is shifting from the passive transmission of knowledge to a competency-based model focused on professional development. Self-directed learning is emerging as the foremost educational method for advancing competency-based CME. In a field marked by the constant expansion of knowledge, self-directed learning allows physicians to tailor their learning strategy to meet the information needs of practice. Point of care information services are innovative tools that provide health professionals with digested evidence at the front line to guide decision making. By mobilising self-directing learning to meet the information needs of clinicians at the bedside, point of care information services represent a promising platform for competency-based

CME. Several points, however, must be considered to enhance the accessibility and development of these tools to improve competency-based CME and the quality of care.

EXTRACTS (selected by Neil PW)

‘Point of care information services: online information sources that are integrated with technological innovations such as real-time information systems and portable electronic devices. Examples: ACP Pier, Best Practice, Clinical Evidence, Dynamed, EBMGuidelines, eMedicine, eTG, Micromedex, and UpToDate’

‘Compared with traditional educational resources such as textbooks, online information sources that are integrated with technological innovations such as real-time information systems and portable electronic devices can better meet the information needs arising from patient–physician interactions.’

‘Learners make larger improvements in the knowledge domain if they are involved in selecting their own learning resources.’

‘Interestingly, when the survey asked participants to list their favourite resources as well as the most recently accessed resource, 7 (ie, UpToDate, Epocrates, Medscape/eMedicine, Lexicomp, DynaMed, Pepid, and Micromedex) and 6 (ie, UpToDate, Medscape/eMedicine, Lexicomp, Epocrates, DynaMed, and Pepid) of the top 10 most frequently cited resources, respectively, were point of care services.’

‘Although health professionals use a wide spectrum of information resources such as consulting their colleagues, PubMed, and Google, there is a strong predilection for point of care resources to provide pre-appraised information.’

‘The advent of Free Open Access Meducation (FOAM) resources has opened a new outlet for the synthesis and exchange of information within the medical community.78 FOAM builds upon social networking websites (eg, blogs, podcasts, tweets, Google hangouts, web-based applications) to create a space for health professionals to discuss, for example, treatment options and best practice strategies as well as critically appraise and evaluate scientific literature.78’

I look forward to learn about your experience and the applicability of the above to low- and middle-income countries.

Best wisehs, Neil

Let’s build a future where people are no longer dying for lack of healthcare knowledge – Join HIFA: www.hifa2015.org