Background/Purpose: The 2015 workforce study conducted by the American College of Rheumatology estimated that in 2030, the United States (US) alone will have a shortage of about 4,700 rheumatologists. As such, primary care providers (PCPs) may find themselves taking the initial steps to diagnose and treat some rheumatologic disorders. PCPs can participate in rheumatology-focused continuing professional development (CPD), which may help mitigate this shortfall. However, there is no recent synthesis of the literature describing these initiatives or their efficacy. This risks the use of suboptimal instructional methods and missed opportunities for providers.

Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review of CPD in rheumatology for primary care. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ERIC, CINAHL, PsycINFO were systematically searched by a medical librarian. Studies were limited to those performed in the US and Canada. Studies prior to 1995 were excluded to allow the authors to build on a previous review published that year. An extraction form, including the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument, was created through an iterative process and applied to the included articles.

Results: 725 studies were retrieved, of which 9 met inclusion criteria. Preliminary results showed that CPD was directed more at non-inflammatory arthritis than inflammatory arthritis. Additionally, 4 studies at least partially focused on teaching arthrocentesis. Autoimmune diseases were underrepresented; rheumatoid arthritis was discussed in 4 studies and an additional study discussed rheumatologic topics more broadly.

In rheumatology CPD, the underrepresentation of autoimmune disease may contribute to questions in diagnosing and referring patients to rheumatology further accentuating the shortfall of rheumatologists. Newer research tended to include multi-component approaches that combine strategies (such as didactics and active learning), whereas older research was less focused on interactive learning modalities. This is consistent with a move towards more active learning in CPD. Cost considerations are important in CPD, though few articles discuss it. Though e-learning is increasing in popularity, identified interventions were predominantly face-to-face with few examples of e-learning. E-learning may continue to evolve, particularly given the impact of COVID-19 on education.

Conclusion: Rheumatology CPD is moving towards more interactive teaching methods and is typically conducted in person through virtual options in rheumatology CPD should be explored to improve access to CPD. Autoimmune disease is an uncommon topic in CPD and may be an area for future expansion.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/rheumatology-continuing-professional-development-for-primary-care-providers-a-systematic-review/