An Evaluating Of A Continuing Medical Education Program On Urinary Stone

Purpose: present study is to evaluate the effect of the urinary stone continuing medical education program on GPs' knowledge,  attitude  and  performance  in real situation.Material & Method: 80 GPs, 19 female and 61 male, 43.2 +/-12.5 years old, 14.5 +/-11.9 years after graduation, who work in private practice in Tehran, participated in the  study.  They participated  in  two-day conference  run  by  lectures  and  active discussion.   The GPs' knowledge, attitude and behavior in managing three conditions: renal colic,  ureteral stones,  and  passed stones  were  evaluated before  and  after program.         The      scores were,  then, compared. GPs' performance evaluated using simulated patients one week before and  two months          after    the       program. Knowledge by 29 MCQ tests and attitudeby 10 items based on Likert's scale  that was tested before and after the program.Findings: The urinary stone CME program had positive effects on attitude and knowledge, so that its effects were still present two months after the program.The program had a significant influence on the GPs' behaviors in managing ureteral stones, but not in the other two conditions.Conclusion: Providing appropriate content educational programs and encouraging the learners' participation in the programs will lead to an increase in knowledge and attitude.  To make positive change in GPs' behaviors, other educational methods should be applied.