Low rates of reporting commercial bias by physicians following online continuing medical education activities.

Background: Concerns have been raised about bias in commercially supported continuing medical education (CME) activities, although the data are sparse about whether such bias exists, or if so, its extent.

Methods: Postactivity CME evaluation surveys were analyzed to quantitate reporting rates of bias, overall and by funding source.

Results: 5Of 1,621,647 physicians who participated in online CME activities, 1,064,642 (65.

A controlled trial of the effectiveness of internet continuing medical education.

Background: The internet has had a strong impact on how physicians access information and on the development of continuing medical education activities. Evaluation of the effectiveness of these activities has lagged behind their development.

Methods: To determine the effectiveness of a group of 48 internet continuing medical education (CME) activities, case vignette surveys were administered to US physicians immediately following participation, and to a representative control group of non-participant physicians.

Evaluating outpatient versus inpatient costs in endophthalmitis management.

Purpose: To assess the cost savings that would result from 1) implementing the treatment guidelines of the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS) and 2) performing procedures on an outpatient rather than an inpatient basis, and to compare the savings to the cost of conducting the EVS.

Methods: The coding algorithms for four endophthalmitis treatment groups were obtained from Patient Financial Services at the Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital (ABLEH) and national Medicare averages were consulted for reimbursements in 2000 dollars. The four groups were: 1) inpatient pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravenous antibiotics; 2) outpatient PPV; 3) inpatient vitreous tap with intravenous antibiotics; and 4) outpatient vitreous tap.