Abstract Details

Title Online Medical Education Improves Knowledge of Recent Data in Epilepsy and Related Clinical Applicability Among General Neurologists and Epileptologists

Topic Education, Research, and Methodology

Presentation(s) P13 - Poster Session 13 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 7-006

Background Seizures remain uncontrolled in 1/3 of patients with epilepsy. Previous data indicated that neurologists lack awareness of both clinical trial data for anti-seizure medications (ASMs) or how such information may inform clinical practice.

Objective An online activity was developed to assess the ability of continuing medical education (CME) to improve awareness of clinical data for newer ASMs among both neurologists who self-idenfy as either generalists or epileptologists.

Design/Methods The online CME activity consisted of a 30-minute video discussion between two expert faculty. Educational effect was assessed by comparing a matched sample of neurologists’ responses to four identical questions pre- and post-activity. A paired-samples t-test identified significant differences between pre- and post-assessment responses. Cohen’s d was used to calculate the effect size of the online education. Data were collected between April 26, 2021 and July 1, 2021.

Results Activity participation resulted in a moderate educational effect among neurologists (n=1565; d=.63, P<.001). The following areas showed significant (P <.05) pre- vs post-educational improvements: data on focal seizures in older adults, seizure freedom rates of a recently approved ASM, and the translation of clinical data on ASMs to clinical decision-making. 36% of neurologists’ had a measurable increase in confidence in the ability to select an appropriate AED for patients with focal seizures. General neurologists and epileptologists both benefited from this education, though general neurologists had a lower baseline level of knowledge on the interactivity questions. The magnitude of the pre-post change in knowledge was also numerically larger among general neurologists than epileptologists.

Conclusions

The results indicated that a CME-certified 30-minute video activity was effective at improving knowledge among neurologists’ regarding clinical data for and the use of ASMs. Both clinician groups would benefit from additional education on clinical trial outcomes and how such information can be used to improve the use of ASMs in practice.

Authors/Disclosures
Thomas Finnegan, Jr., PhD (Medscape Education) PRESENTER	Dr. Finnegan has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Jovana Lubarda	Jovana Lubarda has nothing to disclose.
Louis Ferrari	Louis Ferrari has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of SK Life science.
Gregory Krauss, MD (Johns Hopkins University)	Dr. Krauss has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Arvelle. Dr. Krauss has received stock or an ownership interest from EpiWatch.
Michael R. Sperling, MD, FAAN (Thomas Jefferson University)	Dr. Sperling has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Neurelis. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Medtronic. Dr. Sperling has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for UCB Pharma. Dr. Sperling has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Medscape. Dr. Sperling has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for International Medical Press. Dr. Sperling has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Projects for Knowledge. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from SK Life Science. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from UCB Pharma . The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from Takeda. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from Neurelis. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from Engage Therapeutics . The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from Medtronic. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from Cavion. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from Xenon Pharma. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from Cerevel. The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from National Institutes of Health . The institution of Dr. Sperling has received research support from DARPA. Dr. Sperling has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Sperling has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Sperling has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Vice President with Epilepsy Consortium .