Researchers studied whether physicians reviewing their quality measures and peer comparisons would increase the probability of their choosing continuing medical accreditation activities that would address their individual quality gaps.
The primary outcome that was studied was whether the selected activity reflected a quality area for which the physician scored lower than their peers. The secondary outcome they studied was time spent by physicians reviewing their quality measures dashboard.
Nearly 20% of the sample didn’t complete a certification activity during the study. Almost a quarter of physicians in the intervention arm never reviewed their quality dashboard. Only 27% of certification activities were completed in clinical areas where the physician’s quality of care was below average, and there was no difference between intervention and control groups. Of the 45.4% of physicians who viewed their dashboard, they typically did so two weeks before engaging in the activity. The median time spent reviewing the dashboard was 82 seconds.
The authors conclude, “We found that providing physicians their quality measures inside their certification portfolio did not drive their selection of certification activities. Multicomponent interventions with multiple touch points are likely needed to change physician behavior.”
Physicians’ Choice of Board Certification Activity is Unaffected by Baseline Quality of Care: The TRADEMaRQ Study
Lars E. Peterson, MD, PhD, et al
American Board of Family Medicine and Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2770
The Annals of Family Medicine