RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 mCME project V.2.0: randomised controlled trial of a revised SMS-based continuing medical education intervention among HIV clinicians in Vietnam
JF BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e000632
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000632
VO 3
IS 1
A1 Gill, Christopher J
A1 Le, Ngoc Bao
A1 Halim, Nafisa
A1 Chi, Cao Thi Hue
A1 Nguyen, Viet Ha
A1 Bonawitz, Rachael
A1 Hoang, Pham Vu
A1 Nguyen, Hoang Long
A1 Huong, Phan Thi Thu
A1 Larson Williams, Anna
A1 Le, Ngoc Anh
A1 Sabin, Lora
YR 2018
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000632.abstract
AB Background Continuing medical education (CME) is indispensable, but costs are a barrier. We tested the effectiveness of a novel mHealth intervention (mCME V.2.0) promoting CME among Vietnamese HIV clinicians.Methods We enrolled HIV clinicians from three provinces near Hanoi. The 6-month intervention consisted of (1) daily short message service multiple-choice quiz questions, (2) daily linked readings, (3) links to online CME courses and (4) feedback messages describing the performance of the participant relative to the group. Control participants had equal access to the online CME courses. Our primary endpoint was utilisation of the online CME courses; secondary endpoints were self-study behaviour, performance on a standardised medical exam and job satisfaction.Results From 121 total HIV clinicians in the three provinces, 106 (87.6%) enrolled, and 48/53 intervention (90%) and 47/53 control (89%) participants completed the endline evaluations. Compared with controls, intervention participants were more likely to use the CME courses (risk ratio (RR) 2.3, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.8, accounting for 83% of course use (P<0.001)). Intervention participants increased self-study behaviours over controls in terms of use of medical textbooks (P<0.01), consulting with colleagues (P<0.01), searching on the internet (P<0.001), using specialist websites (P=0.02), consulting the Vietnam HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines (P=0.02) and searching the scientific literature (P=0.09). Intervention participants outperformed controls on the exam (+23% vs +12% score gains, P=0.05) and had higher job satisfaction.Conclusion The mCME V.2.0 intervention improved self-study behaviour, medical knowledge and job satisfaction. This approach has potential for expansion in Vietnam and similar settings.Trial registration number NCT02381743.