Addressing educational gaps through multidisciplinary team education in eosinophilic oesophagitis management

ABSTRACT

Once considered a rare disease, eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is becoming increasingly prevalent, yet many healthcare professionals (HCPs) remain unfamiliar with the underlying pathophysiology and optimal management approaches. For this study, we developed a faculty-led, online, continuing medical education activity on EoE. The effectiveness of this activity was evaluated according to Moore’s framework, with changes in knowledge and competence (Moore’s Levels 3 and 4) assessed for a cohort of gastroenterologists, dietitians, allergists and immunologists (N = 300), using questionnaires completed before and after participation. Changes in HCP confidence in treating EoE were also reported and remaining educational gaps were identified. The activity was viewed by a global audience of 5,330 participants within 6 months, and significant improvements in knowledge and competence were reported following participation in the activity across all specialities, regions and experience (mean [standard deviation] score pre- versus post-activity: 4.32 [1.38] versus 5.46 [0.82]; p < 0.001). Confidence in treating EoE also increased from pre- to post-activity, with the proportion of participants reporting that they felt moderately or extremely confident increasing from 53% to 82%. Several educational unmet needs were identified, which can be used to inform the design of future educational activities in EoE

KEYWORDS:

• Competence
• continuing medical education
• eosinophilic oesophagitis
• knowledge
• multidisciplinary team
• online education
• outcomes assessment

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the touchIME (touch Independent Medical Education) audience outreach team (Joel Turner, Hannah Morton-Fishwick and Louise Jarman) for collection and analysis of the Level 1 data. Medical writing support was provided by Stephanie Carter, and editorial support was provided by Joanna MacDiarmid, both of touchIME, Cheshire, UK. The educational activities were jointly provided by University of South Florida (USF) Health and touchIME. All authors contributed to the study design and to the writing of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

KB, KD, AN, and AMN are employees of Touch Independent Medical Education Ltd and have no financial interests/relationships or affiliations in relation to this activity. AJB received research funding from Nutricia, Norgine, DrFalkPharma, Thelial, and SST, and received speaker and/or consulting fees from Laborie, Medtronic, Dr. Falk Pharma, Alimentiv, Sanofi/Regeneron and AstraZeneca. JS received consultancy fees from Allakos, Novartis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi; grant/research support from Celgene, Novartis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi; and other financial or material support (royalties, patent, etc.) from UpToDate. IS received speaker’s bureau fee from Thermo Fisher Scientific (2021) (relationship terminated).

Data availability statement

Data will be shared with bona fide researchers submitting a research proposal to touchIME. Access requests should be submitted to Alex Noble ([email protected]). Data will be made available from the study publication date. Any individual participant data will be shared in data sets in a de-identified/anonymised format.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/28338073.2023.2230033

Additional information

Funding

Supported by an independent medical education grant from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Sanofi. AJB is supported by Vidi grant 91718300 from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. provided an independent medical education grant to fund the educational activity and medical writing/editorial support, but did not contribute directly to manuscript development, the decision to submit, or the submission process.