EVALUATION OF A PROBLEM-ORIENTED CONTINUI NG-EDUCATION CONCEPT IN GP AUDIT CIRCLES

Evaluation of a Problem-Oriented Continuing Education Concept in GP Au dit Circles: The study group for ''Continuing Education and Quality Im provement'' of the Association of Cooperative Centres for Rheumatology in the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Rheumatologie (DGRh) has organised a n educational programme for general practitioners (GPs). The education al programme is presently being evaluated by a study group supported b y the German Ministry of Health. It is a programme based on andragogic principles for interactive learning in small groups, provided for use in the ongoing network of Audit Circles for GPs in the BRD. The progr amme has been adopted from the project ''Rheuma 2000'' of the Swiss Le ague against Rheumatic diseases. In collaboration with the KV Hessen a nd the KV Lower Saxony, a study group of the Rhein-Main and Hannover C entre for Rheumatology and the Scientific Institute of the German Medi cal Association (WIAD) are presently evaluating scientifically the edu cational programme in 2 Audit Circles each in Hessen and in Lower Saxo ny. The evaluation includes acceptance of the programme (Topic: should er-neck pain) by the GPs, increase in specific knowledge and outcome i n respect of changes in diagnostic and therapeutic policy of audit par ticipants. Preliminary investigations with the evaluation questionnair es in 6 pilot audit circles demonstrated that (1) the novel didactic c oncept was excellently accepted by the participating GPs, (2) that the re was a measurable increase in learning according to the topic ''shou lder-neck pain'' and that there are (3) changes in diagnostic and ther apeutic policy towards an improvement of patient medical care. interac tive, case-oriented learning in small groups like Audit Circles of GPs with adaptation to adult learners seems to be an alternative to forma l lectures in continuing rheumatological education and may also contri bute to better medical care of patients with rheumatic diseases.