This study examined whether curriculum based continuing medical education (CME) interventions can improve provider knowledge, competence, and confidence related to the assessment and treatment of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

The online CME curriculum consisted of 2 online activities, which used repeated pairs pre-/post-assessment study design and McNemar’s test (P <.05 is considered significant) to assess educational effect. Clinicians who completed questions both pre- and post-assessment were aggregated across activities, stratified by 2 learning themes.

Significant improvements (n=31-756, P<0.05-0.001) were seen for knowledge/competence across all providers (psychiatrists, psychiatry NPs, psychiatry PAs, PCPs, primary care NPs, and primary care PAs) for both learning themes – “Appropriate depression medication selection and modification” and “Evaluating residual symptoms in patients with MDD”. Notable improvements:

• • There was a 48% relative improvement among PCPs, 26% relative improvement among primary care NPs, 42% relative improvement among primary care PAs, 19% relative improvement among psychiatrists, 23% relative improvement among psychiatry NPs, and 24% relative improvement among psychiatry PAs (P<0.001) related to appropriate depression medication selection and modification.

• • There was a 47% relative improvement among PCPs (P<0.01), 41% relative improvement among NPs (P<0.01), 18% relative improvement among psychiatrists, 33% relative improvement among psychiatry NPs, and 52% among psychiatry PAs (P<0.001) related to evaluating residual symptoms in patients with MDD.

Participation in CME interventions significantly improved knowledge/competence and confidence among psychiatric and primary care providers. This study identified persistent gaps in clinician knowledge and competence related to MDD care that may guide future education.

Medscape Education, Takeda Pharmaceuticals