Universität zu Köln

Lenzen, Laura Marianne, Weidringer, Johann Wilhelm and Enschlaeger, Gunter (2016). Conflict of interest in continuing medical education - Studies on certified CME courses. Z. Evidenz Fortbild. Qual. Gesundheitswesen, 110. S. 60 - 69. JENA: ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG. ISSN 2212-0289

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Abstract

Objectives: Although the problem of conflict of interest in medical education is discussed intensively, few valid data have been published on how to deal with the form, content, funding, sponsorship, and the influence of economic interests in continuing medical education (CME). Against this background, we carried out an analysis of data which had been documented for the purpose of certification by a German Medical Association. A central aim of the study was to obtain evidence of possible influences of economic interests on continuing medical education. Furthermore, strategies for quality assurance of CME contents and their implementation were to be examined. Methods: We analyzed all registration data for courses certified in the category D (structured interactive CME via print media, online media and audiovisual media) by the Bavarian Chamber of Physicians in 2012. To measure the effects of conflict of interest, relationships between topics of training and variables relating to the alleged self-interest of the organizer/sponsor (for example, drug sales in a group of physicians) were statistically verified. These data were taken from the Bavarian Medical Statistics 2012 and the GKV-Arzneimittelschnellinformation. Results: In 2012, a total of 734 CME course offerings have been submitted for 51 medical specialties by 30 course suppliers in the Bavarian Medical Association. To ensure the neutrality of interests of the CME courses the course suppliers signed a cooperation treaty ensuring their compliance with defined behavior towards the Bavarian Medical Association concerning sponsorship. The correlation between course topics and drug data suggests that course suppliers tend to submit topics that are economically attractive to them. There was a significant correlation between the number of CME courses in a specific field and the sales from drug prescriptions issued by physicians in the respective field. Conclusions: The results show that neutrality of interests regarding continuing medical education is difficult to achieve under the current framework for the organization, certification, and especially the funding of CME events in Germany. The cooperation agreement between the Bavarian Medical Association and training applicants is taken as an example of how legal certainty can be ensured. Based on the findings described below, suggestions and strategies to strengthen assessment expertise of course participants have been developed and elaborated.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Lenzen, Laura Marianne UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Weidringer, Johann Wilhelm UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Enschlaeger, Gunter UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-293527
DOI:	10.1016/j.zefq.2015.11.004
Journal or Publication Title:	Z. Evidenz Fortbild. Qual. Gesundheitswesen
Volume:	110
Page Range:	S. 60 - 69
Date:	2016
Publisher:	ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG
Place of Publication:	JENA
ISSN:	2212-0289
Language:	German
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Health Policy & Services Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/29352