Evaluation of an educational program for primary care practitioners, on the management of osteoarthritis

Abstract

The quality of health care depends, in part, on the rapidity with which health professionals are willing to adapt to medical innovation and adjust patient care practices in light of new knowledge.By understanding how information is transmitted and under what conditions physicians will accept innovation, we can design educational programs that have a high probability of changing physician behavior.Primary care physicians practicing in community settings often rely on informal and personal methods of education.Actual experiences in patient care are probably the strongest influences that bring about changes in professional practice.When faced with clinical problems, primary care practitioners commonly turn to colleagues for advice.Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of key individuals in each community who are consulted frequently.These practitioners, referred to as ''educationally influential physicians'' or EIs, have the ability to change their peers' behavior in a desired manner (I).This project was based on the hypothesis that