The Use of Simulation in Continuing Professional Development: A Comparison of Family Physicians’ Awareness in Mersin and in Ann-Arbor

With the intent to promote using simulation in Continued Professional Development (CPD) in Turkey, we examined Turkish Family Medicines (FM) in Mersin and United States FMs in Ann-Arbor attitudes toward simulation and resources used in CPD programs to identify preferred teaching methods and subject areas that might benefit from the use of simulation for training. Method: A survey-based needs assessment was disseminated via email to FM Associations in Mersin (MAHDER) and in Ann-Arbor (AFMRD). Participants completed the 2-part survey that included demographics and 10 items across three domains (reasons for CPD, preferred resources, learning modalities) rated on 5-point rating scales (5=highest). Top factors and rating differences across participants’ country, gender, stage in career, were evaluated using a many-facet Rasch model. Results: Two-hundred, seventy-three FMs completed the survey. Top reason for participation in CPD was “Willingness to try new things” for both FMs in Mersin and Ann-Arbor. FMs in Mersin indicated “Simulation-based training” had higher importance as a learning modality than FMs in Ann-Arbor, but reported less use of simulation for CPD. Other detailed findings and their implications are discussed. Conclusions: Findings suggest that FMs in Mersin feel that simulation is an important educational modality for CPD but it is not widely employed. This suggests that there are opportunities for the development of novel, simulation-based CPD curricula targeted to FM physicians in Mersin. with potential expansion to other developing countries. Giris: Turkiye’de, Surekli Mesleki Gelisim (SMG) de simulasyon kullanimini tesvik etmek amaciyla, Turkiye’nin Mersin ilindeki aile hekimleri ile Amerika’nin Ann-Arbor bolgesindeki aile hekimlerinin egitimlerinde simulasyon kullaniminin, hangi egitim metodlarinda ve konu alanlarinda fayda saglayabilecegini belirlemek icin SMG programlarinda simulasyon ve kaynak kullanim aliskanliklari arastirildi. Yontem: Mersin (MAHDER) ve Ann-Arbor (AFMRD) aile hekimleri derneklerine mail yoluyla degerlendirme anketleri gonderildi. Katilimcilarin tamamladiklari anket, demografik verileri ve uc alani kapsayan (SMG sebepleri, tercih edilen kaynaklar, ogrenim modaliteleri) 5 lik skalada degerlendirilen (5= en yuksek) 10 soruluk 2 kisimdan olusmustu. Katilimcilarin ulke, cinsiyet, ve kariyerlerine gore temel faktorler ve puanlama farkliliklari many-facet Rasch teknigi kullanilarak degerlendirildi. Bulgular: 273 aile hekimi anketi tamamladi. Mersin ve Ann-Arbor daki aile hekimlerinin herikisi icin de, SMG’ye katilimda en onemli faktor “yeni seyleri denemeye isteklilik’’ idi. “Simulasyon temelli egitimi’’ bir ogrenme sekli olarak, Mersin’deki aile hekimleri, “Ann-Arbor’’ daki aile hekimlerine gore daha onemli bulduklarini, ancak SMG’de daha az kullandiklarini belirttiler. Diger sonuclar ve uygulamalar tartisildi. Sonuc: Bu bulgular, Mersin’deki aile hekimlerinin SMG’de simulasyon kullaniminin onemli bir egitim sekli oldugunun farkinda olduklarini ancak yaygin olarak kullanmadiklarini gostermistir. Bu durum Mersin’deki ve diger gelismekte olan ulkelerdeki aile hekimlerine yonelik yeni, simulasyona dayali SMG mufredatinin gelistirilmesi icin firsatlar oldugunu onermektedir.