Use of a mail-out continuing education article to teach health professionals about drug-induced disease

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)/Georgetown University Medical Center conference was the basis for "Clinical Therapeutics and the Recognition of Drug-Induced Disease," the first MEDWATCH continuing education (CE) mail-out article. Developed as a major component of FDA MEDWATCH post-marketing surveillance outreach, the article used a clinical therapeutic approach to discuss topics including adverse drug events (ADEs) pharmacology and ADE reporting. Distributed nationwide through the MEDWATCH Partners, health professionals applied for CE credit by completing a self-assessment examination. With the overall response rate slightly more than 2%, 15,260 health professionals (55% physicians and 37% pharmacists) received CE credit. Evaluation of the initial approximately two-thirds (N = 10,021) of successfully completed exams found 99% agreement that stated learning objectives were met, and the article relevant to their clinical practice; spontaneous comments/letters were also very positive. The highest percentage responding specialists were internists (28%) and psychiatrists (17%), with notable differences found among specialties for response rate versus relative article distribution (such as relatively low response rates among surgeons and radiology/radiation physics specialists). The number of health professionals receiving CE credit, coupled with examination performance and overall response, indicates that "Clinical Therapeutics and the Recognition of Drug-Induced Disease" was well received and fulfilled learning objectives. The results provide encouragement for this continuing educational approach.
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