Objective: To examine the effect of an in-office educational intervention on urban health provider lead knowledge and practice.
Methods: A 45-minute talk on lead poisoning prevalence and prevention was delivered at 35 primary care and 3 other sites by a physician. At baseline, attendees were surveyed on lead education participation; lead knowledge was assessed using the 24-question Chicago Lead Knowledge Test (CKLT) (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1998;152:1213-8) scored with 1 point per correct answer. An office representative and randomly selected attendees were resurveyed 1-3 months after the session. Practice representatives provided data on perceived intervention impact and visits and blood tests in the month before and after intervention.
Results: Of 695 attendees, 563 (81%) completed baseline survey. 53 of 154 (34%) physician/nurse practitioner (P/NP), 27 of 106 (25%) registered nurse (RN), and 50 of 303 (17%) other staff (OS) attendees completed baseline and follow-up surveys. All groups improved their CLKT score (all p<.001: P/NP 19.7 before to 21.8 after; RN 19.0 to 21.6; OS 16.5 to 18.9). At follow-up, respondents were more likely to have ever provided lead education to parents (all p<.05; P/NP 77% before to 91% after; RN 65% to 88%; OS 48% to 70%). 30 of 35 practice representatives (86%) provided follow-up data. 50% reported an increase in lead education to parents; only 5 provided actual counts of visits or tests ordered.
Conclusion: Providers and office staff demonstrated an increase in knowledge about lead and reported an increase in lead education following an in-office educational intervention.
Learning Objectives: At conclusion, participants will be aware of health provider knowledge about lead and to improve knowledge, evaluation and effect of an approach
Keywords: Lead, Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.