FAQs for Physician Learners about EB CME

As of January 1, 2005, CME activities receiving the AAFP evidence-based CME (EB CME) designation will earn double credit for the portion designated as EB CME. The AAFP’s Commission on Continuing Professional Development (COCPD) believes that 2 for 1 credit for physicians will elevate the use and recognition of this type of enhanced CME, and that it demonstrates the added value of CME based on evidence.

This page of frequently asked questions is designed to provide physician learners with information about implementation, timelines, and possible impact of this opportunity. Please e-mail your comments on the process or suggestions for additional FAQs to ebcme@aafp.org.

1. What is evidence-based CME?

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) integrates the current best research evidence with physicians' clinical expertise and patients' values.¹ Evidence-based CME (EB CME) is CME clinical content that is based on the best available evidence and that delivers specific practice recommendations based on evidence that has been systematically reviewed by an AAFP-approved EBM source. To be eligible for EB CME credit, the content must cite both the source of the information and the level of strength of the evidence for each practice recommendation made.

2. Why does the AAFP support EB CME?

Basing CME clinical content on the current best research evidence reduces the potential for bias and boosts reliability of the content. Combined with the clinician's judgment regarding the content's usefulness in a given clinical scenario, those factors add to the value of the CME content. In addition, by providing useful tools — in the form of practice recommendations — based on solid evidence, EB CME activities should enhance physicians' clinical decision-making and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes. By providing double credit for EB CME, the AAFP hopes to convey this value to family physicians and CME providers.

3. Are CME providers required to provide EB CME?

No. CME providers are not required to offer EB CME, and family physicians currently are not required to obtain EB CME.

4. How does the AAFP decide whether a CME activity qualifies for EB CME credit?

AAFP accreditation staff and/or COCPD members review individual topics within each CME activity, assessing their evidence-based content and accompanying practice recommendations, to decide whether to grant EB CME credit. Based on that evidence and the number of practice recommendations made, an entire CME activity may qualify for EB CME credit. Yet it is also possible that only a single presentation in a daylong CME program will contain EB CME, thus qualifying for EB CME credit. In this case, the non-EB CME portions of that program would receive regular CME credit, and the EB CME portion would receive double credit as EB CME. The CME provider is responsible for clarifying to physician learners which portion of a program has been granted EB CME credit.

5. How many practice recommendations must be made for a CME activity to receive EB CME credit?

One to three recommendations are needed per topic. If a CME activity is 1-2 hours long and the focus is on one topic seeking EB CME designation, the CME activity likely will qualify for EB CME. However, if a day long CME activity includes only one topic that is evidence-based and produces five practice recommendations, only that portion of the overall activity would receive EB CME designation.

6. Do physician learners need to complete any additional tasks to qualify for the double credit?

No. AAFP members will report their CME activities to the AAFP CME Records Department as they currently do and the additional credit for EB CME activities will be automatically added to their CME records.

7. How will double credit for EB CME be designated on CME certificates and in physician records?

CME providers will use the EB CME credit statement for CME certificates. The statement will be listed on the AAFP official credit approval form that is e-mailed to them by their AAFP review coordinator once the CME activity is approved. This credit statement will show maximum credits for the CME activity and how much of the CME activity received EB CME.

8. How does double credit for EB CME translate from AAFP Prescribed credit to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for non-AAFP members?

Because CME certificates and physician records will show the total number of credits awarded, there will be no difference in the number of credits reported for non-AAFP members.

REFERENCES
1. Sackett, David L.; Straus, Sharon E.; Richardson, W. Scott; et al. Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach EBM. 2^nd edition. London, England: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.