Using electronic health data to inform Continuing Medical Education (CME) for medical practitioners: a scoping review with a consultation exercise with international experts.

Abstract

Background: Electronic health data mining is widely used in healthcare research. Unfortunately, there is little knowledge on the role of this type of data in health professions education research, and in particular for the development of CME activities and programs for medical practitioners. 

Aims: This study aims to identify, select, and synthetize available research evidence on the use of electronic health data analysis as a learning needs assessment tool for CME development.

Methods: The scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley Framework. Three bibliographic databases were searched using the PCC Framework recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The initial screening and the full-text review were performed employing rigorous eligibility criteria. 

While collating the results of database search, a consultation exercise with national and international authors, experts, and researchers identified through the findings of the scoping review was performed. 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted; the interview transcriptions are about to be thematically analysed using the Braun and Clarke's approach.

Results:  The database search identified 8410 papers published from January 2010 to March 2021. After initial screening, 41 papers were selected for full-text review and only 6 of them were deemed relevant. One additional article was added during the consultation exercise, for a total of 7 articles included in the scoping review. 

Conclusions:

Final considerations will be made at study completion and shared during the conference.