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Sideris M, Rallis KS, Nicolaides M, Kuri A, Schottler N, Paulus N, Haas O, Krajewski R, Grenho J, Papalois V. The UEMS experience in continuous medical education accreditation process: a 'quo vadis' analysis of our global database. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:689-696. [PMID: 38333329 PMCID: PMC10849379 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000001583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The authors systematically appraise a large database of continuous professional development (CPD) and continuous medical education (CME) events against the European Accreditation Council for Continuous Medical Education (EACCME) framework. Methods The authors performed a retrospective observational study of all CPD or CME events within the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) database between 2017 and 2019, including 91 countries and 6034 events. Assessment of event design, quality and outcomes was evaluated against a validated, expert-derived accreditation framework, using thematic analysis to extract distinct themes, and subsequent quantitative analysis. Results The authors included 5649 live educational events (LEEs) and 385 e-learning materials (ELMs). Three thousand seven hundred sixty-two [3762 (62.3%)] of the events did not report clear justification in their needs assessment process. Most accreditation applications claimed covering a single educational need [1603/2277 (70.3%)]. Needs assessments were reported to be similar across conferences, courses and other types of events (P<0.01); 5642/6034 events (93.5%) had clearly documented expected learning outcomes; only 978/6034 (16.2%) reported a single expected learning outcome while the rest report 2-10 outcomes. Providers who declared more than one educational need also declared multiple learning outcomes (ρ=0.051, P<0.01). Conclusions Despite EACCME providing a robust framework for the CPD/CME accreditation process, reporting quality can still be improved, as more than 1 in 2 events fail to provide a clear description of their needs assessment. To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest educational LEE/ELM database, which can be a starting to revisit the CME/CPD accreditation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Sideris
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London
| | - Kathrine S. Rallis
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Ashvin Kuri
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London
| | | | - Nathalie Paulus
- European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Orthmar Haas
- Group Practice Dr. Haas/Dr. Engler, Klagenfurt, Germany
| | - Romuald Krajewski
- Head & Neck Cancer Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joao Grenho
- General Surgery Department, Hospital da Luz Oeiras, Oeiras, Portugal
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Timmers M, van Dijck JTJM, van Wijk RPJ, Legrand V, van Veen E, Maas AIR, Menon DK, Citerio G, Stocchetti N, Kompanje EJO. How do 66 European institutional review boards approve one protocol for an international prospective observational study on traumatic brain injury? Experiences from the CENTER-TBI study. BMC Med Ethics 2020; 21:36. [PMID: 32398066 PMCID: PMC7216427 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-020-00480-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The European Union (EU) aims to optimize patient protection and efficiency of health-care research by harmonizing procedures across Member States. Nonetheless, further improvements are required to increase multicenter research efficiency. We investigated IRB procedures in a large prospective European multicenter study on traumatic brain injury (TBI), aiming to inform and stimulate initiatives to improve efficiency. Methods We reviewed relevant documents regarding IRB submission and IRB approval from European neurotrauma centers participating in the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI). Documents included detailed information on IRB procedures and the duration from IRB submission until approval(s). They were translated and analyzed to determine the level of harmonization of IRB procedures within Europe. Results From 18 countries, 66 centers provided the requested documents. The primary IRB review was conducted centrally (N = 11, 61%) or locally (N = 7, 39%) and primary IRB approval was obtained after one (N = 8, 44%), two (N = 6, 33%) or three (N = 4, 23%) review rounds with a median duration of respectively 50 and 98 days until primary IRB approval. Additional IRB approval was required in 55% of countries and could increase duration to 535 days. Total duration from submission until required IRB approval was obtained was 114 days (IQR 75–224) and appeared to be shorter after submission to local IRBs compared to central IRBs (50 vs. 138 days, p = 0.0074). Conclusion We found variation in IRB procedures between and within European countries. There were differences in submission and approval requirements, number of review rounds and total duration. Research collaborations could benefit from the implementation of more uniform legislation and regulation while acknowledging local cultural habits and moral values between countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein Timmers
- Department of Intensive Care, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen T J M van Dijck
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Neurosurgical Center Holland, LUMC, HMC & Haga Teaching Hospital, Leiden, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Roel P J van Wijk
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Neurosurgical Center Holland, LUMC, HMC & Haga Teaching Hospital, Leiden, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Valerie Legrand
- ICON plc, South County Business Park Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland
| | - Ernest van Veen
- Department of Intensive Care, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrew I R Maas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.,University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - David K Menon
- Department of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Giuseppe Citerio
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,San Gerardo Hospital, ASST-Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Nino Stocchetti
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, Milan University, Milan, Italy.,Neuro ICU Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Erwin J O Kompanje
- Department of Intensive Care, Erasmus MC - University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. .,Department of Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Diet and physical activity in pregnancy and offspring's cardiovascular health: a systematic review. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2018; 10:286-298. [PMID: 30419991 DOI: 10.1017/s204017441800082x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence linking maternal diet and physical activity before and during pregnancy with offspring's cardiovascular health. Although many studies examined this association, the evidence has not been reviewed systematically. We therefore undertook a systematic review to synthesize evidence examining the association of maternal diet and physical activity before and during pregnancy with offspring's blood pressure and vascular health. We systematically searched the databases MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to June 30, 2017. Eligibility screening, data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. A total of 19 articles were included comprising three randomized controlled trials and 16 observational studies. Of the studies that examined the association of interest, 60% (three out of five studies) showed that high maternal carbohydrate intake was associated with higher offspring's blood pressure. Maternal protein intake during pregnancy was negatively associated with offspring carotid intima-media thickness in two out of two studies. No consistent findings for maternal fatty acid intake were found. There were too few studies to draw conclusions on energy intake, fibre intake, protein/carbohydrate ratio, specific foods, dietary patterns and maternal physical activity. Heterogeneity in exposure and outcome assessment hampered pooling. Also, owing to the observational nature of most studies, causality cannot be established. Harmonization of valid exposure and outcome measurements, and the development of core outcome sets are needed to enable more robust conclusions.
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Haring R, Bell RJ. Lack of research reproducibility, the rise of open science and the need for continuing education in research methods. Climacteric 2018; 21:413-414. [PMID: 30033769 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2018.1476968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
In this opinion piece, we discuss the issue of lack of reproducibility in medical research and the different approaches that are being taken to address this problem. One general approach involves much greater transparency including the pre-publication of a study protocol, analysis plan and analysis code as well as the ultimate sharing of data, doing away with the concept of the 'single wrap-up publication'. The other change required is to support the training and mentorship of young researchers and ensure that they are not working in isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Haring
- a Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia
| | - R J Bell
- a Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia
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de Costa C. Welcome to ANZJOG 2018. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2018; 58:13-14. [PMID: 29400397 DOI: 10.1111/ajo.12765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline de Costa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, James Cook University College of Medicine, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
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