Using Web-Based Continuing Education to Improve New Diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease in Claims Data: Retrospective Case-Control Study

Abstract BackgroundAlzheimer disease (AD) presents significant challenges to health care systems worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis of AD is crucial for effective management and care to enable timely treatment interventions that can preserve cognitive function and improve...

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Main Authors: Katie Lucero, Thomas Finnegan, Soo Borson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-05-01
Series:JMIR Medical Education
Online Access:https://mededu.jmir.org/2025/1/e72000
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author Katie Lucero
Thomas Finnegan
Soo Borson
author_facet Katie Lucero
Thomas Finnegan
Soo Borson
author_sort Katie Lucero
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundAlzheimer disease (AD) presents significant challenges to health care systems worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis of AD is crucial for effective management and care to enable timely treatment interventions that can preserve cognitive function and improve patient quality of life. However, there are often significant delays in diagnosis. Continuing medical education (CME) has enhanced physician knowledge and confidence in various medical fields, including AD. Notably, web-based CME has been shown to positively influence physician confidence, which can lead to changes in practice and increased adoption of evidence-based treatment selection. ObjectiveThis study investigated the impact of a targeted, web-based CME intervention on health care providers’ confidence, competence, and real-world outcomes in diagnosing early AD. MethodsThe study employed a 2-phase design. Phase I used a pre-post assessment to evaluate immediate changes in knowledge and confidence before and after CME participation. Phase II involved a retrospective, matched case-control study to examine the impact of CME on AD diagnoses in claims data. ResultsA 1-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of CME regarding change in the volume of AD diagnoses (F1900PP ConclusionsWeb-based CME participation is associated with increased real-world AD diagnoses. Findings offer a mechanism to explain the changes in clinical practice seen as a result of the CME intervention, which improves skills and confidence.
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spelling doaj-art-ee6afdaab76b4e5c921ea16c3b5523072025-08-20T03:21:42ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Medical Education2369-37622025-05-0111e72000e7200010.2196/72000Using Web-Based Continuing Education to Improve New Diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease in Claims Data: Retrospective Case-Control StudyKatie Lucerohttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3278-7878Thomas Finneganhttp://orcid.org/0009-0001-9712-2797Soo Borsonhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2185-768X Abstract BackgroundAlzheimer disease (AD) presents significant challenges to health care systems worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis of AD is crucial for effective management and care to enable timely treatment interventions that can preserve cognitive function and improve patient quality of life. However, there are often significant delays in diagnosis. Continuing medical education (CME) has enhanced physician knowledge and confidence in various medical fields, including AD. Notably, web-based CME has been shown to positively influence physician confidence, which can lead to changes in practice and increased adoption of evidence-based treatment selection. ObjectiveThis study investigated the impact of a targeted, web-based CME intervention on health care providers’ confidence, competence, and real-world outcomes in diagnosing early AD. MethodsThe study employed a 2-phase design. Phase I used a pre-post assessment to evaluate immediate changes in knowledge and confidence before and after CME participation. Phase II involved a retrospective, matched case-control study to examine the impact of CME on AD diagnoses in claims data. ResultsA 1-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of CME regarding change in the volume of AD diagnoses (F1900PP ConclusionsWeb-based CME participation is associated with increased real-world AD diagnoses. Findings offer a mechanism to explain the changes in clinical practice seen as a result of the CME intervention, which improves skills and confidence.https://mededu.jmir.org/2025/1/e72000
spellingShingle Katie Lucero
Thomas Finnegan
Soo Borson
Using Web-Based Continuing Education to Improve New Diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease in Claims Data: Retrospective Case-Control Study
JMIR Medical Education
title Using Web-Based Continuing Education to Improve New Diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease in Claims Data: Retrospective Case-Control Study
title_full Using Web-Based Continuing Education to Improve New Diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease in Claims Data: Retrospective Case-Control Study
title_fullStr Using Web-Based Continuing Education to Improve New Diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease in Claims Data: Retrospective Case-Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Using Web-Based Continuing Education to Improve New Diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease in Claims Data: Retrospective Case-Control Study
title_short Using Web-Based Continuing Education to Improve New Diagnoses of Alzheimer Disease in Claims Data: Retrospective Case-Control Study
title_sort using web based continuing education to improve new diagnoses of alzheimer disease in claims data retrospective case control study
url https://mededu.jmir.org/2025/1/e72000
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AT sooborson usingwebbasedcontinuingeducationtoimprovenewdiagnosesofalzheimerdiseaseinclaimsdataretrospectivecasecontrolstudy