DermWorld Academy Insider: On-demand guideline-based CME courses

March 8, 2023

Periodically, the AAD publishes evidence-based guidelines on a variety of topics in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology to help members ensure they’re providing the best and most up-to-date care for their patients.

Recognizing the importance of these guidelines and as a way to ensure as many members as possible are familiar with them, the Academy has created a series of continuing medical education courses, free for members in the AAD Learning Center, to give members the opportunity to familiarize themselves with guidelines at their own pace.

In this exclusive DermWorld Academy Insider interview, Peggy A. Wu, MD, FAAD, Chair of the AAD Clinical Guidelines Committee, and Sara Samimi, MD, FAAD, Chair of the AAD Patient Safety and Quality Committee, offer their insight on the on-demand courses and why it’s important for members to partake in them.

“These free courses for AAD members are high-yield summaries, led by experts, of the most recent AAD guidance.”

─ Peggy A. Wu, MD, FAAD

DermWorld: Why were the on-demand guideline-based courses created?

Dr. Wu: The on-demand guideline education courses, with a target audience of the dermatologist or dermatology practitioner, are part of an initiative to promote awareness of and disseminate guidelines by packaging them into useful, digestible parcels of information with practical implications. Each course allows members to get a high-level overview of the guideline, as well as introduces useful performance indicator tools to optimize practice. Guideline chairs or workgroup members summarize key recommendations, as well as highlight updates to the guidance and newly available management strategies. We also publish a companion Question of the Week and Dialogues in Dermatology podcast based on the course to further help members translate the guidelines into practice. These activities and resources serve to connect and reinforce the content to ultimately increase utility of the AAD guidelines.

The courses provide several opportunities. They provide an opportunity for education by targeting dermatologists and others who might be involved in the delivery of dermatologic care. They provide an opportunity to generate awareness regarding “what’s new” by giving a summary of key recommendations developed or highlighting any updates to a previously published guideline. And, they provide an opportunity to illustrate the alignment of the science with the performance measures piece, injecting a “quality” perspective, by identifying performance indicators, associated tools, and resources aided in assessment and quality of care.

The courses also provide a recognition of known gaps and barriers to achieving patient satisfaction with disease management.

From the Clinical Guidelines Committee, we are grateful for the support of Sameer Malik, Associate Director of Science & Clinical Guidance, and the superb AAD guidelines staff in the development of these courses.

Dr. Samimi: AAD guidelines were created to provide the most current evidence-based research available on a specific health condition, such as psoriasis, acne, actinic keratosis, or melanoma, and the courses were developed in collaboration between the AAD Guidelines and the Quality Committees and staff teams to provide members with knowledge on how to apply the guidelines into practice. These courses provide real-world examples of challenges or gaps that exist in practice, and practical strategies for how to implement simple, measurable improvements that align with the associated guidelines. These courses highlight applicable quality improvement processes that members can use to provide the best care possible to their patients.

From the Patient Safety and Quality Committee, we are fortunate to work with wonderful AAD staff members Laura Vera and Mona El-Shamaa, who help drive these efforts, and with AAD membership, who help bring these courses to life.

DermWorld: What are some highlights of courses currently available?

Dr. Wu: In order to go beyond the text of the clinical guidelines, these courses were designed to integrate quality improvement efforts and measures programs with the knowledge and recommendations from the new guidelines. The on-demand courses based on the clinical guidelines were developed as a collaboration between the Science and Quality department and the Education department of the AAD. One example within the psoriasis modules is that the first half provides key messages and recommendations from the section — e.g., comorbidities, topicals, phototherapy, biologic, pediatric managements, etc. — with corresponding information in the second half on performance measures or processes to assess, and ultimately improve, clinical outcomes. Each course highlights both the guideline as well as quality improvement measures for patients.

Dr. Samimi: The available on-demand courses simplify and summarize the published guidelines, and then take those guidelines to a higher level with a quality lens, demonstrating how to identify a gap in care, implement a simple change in practice, and measure the change. For example, in Psoriasis Topicals and Non-Biologics care Improvement Strategies, the course both explains what the literature says about psoriasis treatment options and describes known complexities related to topical and non-biologic treatments for psoriasis. These include the importance of considering patient preferences, which impacts likelihood of adherence, as well as the difficulty with measuring body surface area. This course also provides insight into the multi-faceted roles the dermatologist plays. The dermatologist must fully understand the association between treatment compliance and patient education and identify appropriate treatment based on thorough medical history and health. All these variables significantly impact how the dermatologist can successfully implement the guideline.

DermWorld: Why do you believe members should take advantage of the courses being offered?

Dr. Wu: These free courses for AAD members are high-yield summaries, led by experts, of the most recent AAD guidance. Course components include identifying differences between the current and previous guidance. Additionally, they highlight practice assessment measures as well as quality improvement strategies based on the updated guideline recommendations. There is opportunity for member self-assessment with pre- and post-test questions on the topics from the course. This way, members gain immediate feedback on their understanding of the content and receive CME credit.

Dr. Samimi: These courses help bridge the inevitable gap between guidelines and practice. It can be difficult for members to digest the literature while also taking into account real-world challenges, nuances, and complexities. The on-demand courses take all these variables into consideration and create a high yield and easy-to-apply-in-practice resource at member’s fingertips.

DermWorld: What courses can members expect to have available for them the future?

Dr. Wu: Courses for all sections of the psoriasis guidelines are now available to our members, spanning topics of topical and non-biologic therapy, phototherapy, managing comorbidities, biologic therapy, and pediatrics. An on-demand course for actinic keratoses is in development and will be featured next. Following AK will be atopic dermatitis and acne; these guidelines are presently undergoing updates. Our goal is to release these courses in parallel or shortly after the publication of a new or updated AAD guideline to provide multiple avenues to keep our members current with clinical guidance.

Dr. Samimi: Currently there are five psoriasis-specific courses available, and the Guideline and Quality committees are currently developing a course on actinic keratoses.