Efficacy of Self-Directed Learning in the SupracondylarFracture Performance Improvement Module at an AcademicPediatric Orthopedic Institution

Maintenance of certification (MOC) within a medical society requires continuing medical education that demonstrates life-longlearning, cognitive expertise, and practice-based self-assessment. This prospective study sought to evaluate whether a self-directedPractice Improvement Module (PIM) would improve pediatric orthopedic patient outcomes, thus demonstrating evidence of life-long learning (Part II MOC credit) in treating supracondylar humerus fractures. Six surgeons and 113 patients were included. Therewas no significant difference in actual fracture outcome before or after PIM at any level of surgeon experience regarding radiographicappearance or need for reoperation (𝑝>0.10). Junior staff demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the percentageof time that marking the operative site was documented in the chart by the surgeon before (38%) and after (65%) PIM (𝑝=0.02).The self-directed education portion of the supracondylar fracture PIM led to modest improvement in documentation habits amongjunior staff, without impact on overall patient outcomes. Therefore, the PIM appears to be less useful in providing evidence for life-long learning as it relates to surgical outcomes (Part II MOC/CME), yet, it may directly benefit practice-based self-assessment (PartIV MOC), and the self-assessment and Personal ImprovementPlan may be the most important portion of the PIM to improveoutcomes.