Effects of an Online Educational Curriculum on Knowledge and Competence in Managing Onychomycosis

The document reports on a study evaluating the effects of online continuing medical education (CME) activities on the knowledge and competence of dermatologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) in managing onychomycosis. The study involved participants engaging in one of three online CME formats and assessed their knowledge through pre- and post-CME multiple-choice questions. The results showed that both dermatologists and PCPs improved their knowledge and competence following the CME activities, with medium effect sizes (dermatologists d = 0.6, PCPs d = 0.7). Specifically, there were significant increases in the correct answers post-assessment across three critical themes: clinical data on topical solutions, pathophysiology, and treatment expectations. For example, correct answers about topical eficonazole clinical results increased from 37% to 56% for dermatologists and from 31% to 49% for PCPs. The study concluded that online CME can improve the management of onychomycosis by dermatologists and PCPs and suggested that additional education in similar formats may reinforce knowledge retention and clinical application. The study was supported by an educational grant from Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America, LLC.