Continuing education and patient care research. Physician response to screening test results

Abstract

The feasibility of developing continuing education programs based on patient care research was explored through a study of physician response to apparently unexpected abnormalities in 3 routine screening tests (urinalysis, fasting blood glucose, and hemoglobin). Initial assessment revealed no apparent response of any kind to approximately 2/3 of these test abnormalities. A specially designed workshop conference, a full complement of interns, and repeated newsletter reminders failed to improve the quality or quantity of responses. Obscuring abnormal data on the laboratory slip with removable fluorescent tape resulted in significant improvement, more than half of which was maintained 6 months after use of the tape was discontinued. This study illustrates the complementary relationship between patient care research and continuing education that can be profitably integrated in programs to improve medical care.