Impact of short-term online continuing education on gastroesophageal reflux disease on the cognitive level and diagnostic and therapeutic behaviors of physicians in medical consortiums.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of short-term online continuing education on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on the cognitive level, diagnostic and therapeutic behaviors of physicians in medical consortiums.

METHODS

Physicians of different levels, titles, and specialties from member units of the medical consortium were invited to receive an online GERD training program via the DingTalk platform and complete knowledge tests. The differences in knowledge test scores before and after training were analyzed, and the differences in physicians' choices of GERD examination methods and treatment plans before and after training were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 232 physicians completed the study. The total score of the knowledge test after training was significantly higher than that before training (P < 0.05). The increase in knowledge test scores of physicians from primary and secondary hospitals, general practitioners and internal medicine physicians were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Data analysis using the GEE model showed that compared with before training, physicians were more likely to choose gastroscopy and gastrointestinal motility tests after training (P < 0.05). Gastroenterologists were more likely to choose gastrointestinal motility tests than general practitioners, and physicians from tertiary hospitals were more likely to choose gastrointestinal motility tests than those from primary hospitals (P < 0.05). Compared with before training, physicians were more likely to choose lifestyle modifications after training (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Short-term online continuing education on GERD can effectively improve the cognitive level of physicians in medical consortiums, especially for physicians in primary hospitals and general practitioners.