Often we are asked where is the data that shows that doctors appreciate commercially supported CME. One CME provider earlier this summer took the data from their evaluations and a web based survey to produce data on the value of commercially supported CME.
According to Professional Postgraduate Services, (PPS) a majority of practicing physicians find industry-funded Continuing Medical Education (CME) to be fair-balanced and equally as rigorous, effective, and firmly rooted in evidence as non–industry-funded CME.
A total of 1,527 physicians responded to the web-based survey posted in advance of June’s annual meeting of the American Medical Association House of Delegates, at which a proposal by the Council on Judicial and Ethical Affairs (CEJA) that called for elimination of industry funding to support medical education was referred back for further consideration.
In the PPS survey, 82% of respondents said they disagreed with the proposed ban on commercial support of CME. When asked how this ban would affect their participation in CME activities, 56% said it would be more expensive and that they would participate less.
Other highlights of the survey results:
· 71% of respondents found industry-funded CME to be fair-balanced (ie, not favoring one product over another). “Most industry-sponsored events that I am involved with seem fair and balanced,” one wrote. “I have no problem with industry sponsorship,” answered another, “provided it (1) is noted in the presentation [not concealed], and (2) does not constrain the content [industry agent not permitted to control the content].”
· More than two-thirds said industry-funded CME is just as rigorous, just as effective, and just as evidence-based as non–industry-funded CME.“CME topics most often launch my own investigation into the disease or treatment,” one respondent contributed, “I do not feel CME support obligates me to use any certain product, but in the days of DTC advertising, the activities provide me with advance warnings of disease or treatments my patients may have fresh on their minds.”
These findings further reinforce separate data where participants give CME activities even higher approval ratings for fair balance, lack of commercial bias, and sound evidence base.
For activities thus far in 2008, with greater than 7,500 clinicians answering each question:
98% of 7,561 said activities present a balanced view of therapeutic options available for the applicable disease state(s).
95% of 7,925 said the activity presented content that fairly represented, and was based on, a reasonable and valid interpretation of available information.
95% of 14,046 said activities did not appear to place an unreasonable emphasis on one product or service.
This adds to the evidence already collected that commercial support of CME is appreciated by physicians, largely free of bias and vital to our nation’s health care ….