Assessment of Impact of an IT-enabled Education Program for Primary Care Providers in the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a globally prevalent autoimmune disease, with a notable incidence among females. In India, RA prevalence is estimated at 0.2%–0.75%, translating to 2.37–4.66 million affected adults. Due to its complex nature, RA demands multidisciplinary care, primary care providers (PCPs) in India often serve as first point of contact for patients. With a significant shortage of rheumatologists, PCPs face increased workloads, emphasizing the need for education in RA management. Digital and IT-enabled educational programs could address these barriers. Objective: To evaluate the impact of IT-enabled educational program on improving PCPs’ knowledge and management of RA. Methods: This study used an IT-enabled online education platform with a four-module design, in which 105 primary care providers (PCPs) participated remotely from various practice settings in India from February 2023 and July 2024. The program evaluated the impact of educational intervention on RA management, using baseline and post-module questionnaires to measure knowledge gains. Results: Of the 105 enrolled PCPs, 48 initiated the baseline evaluation with 16 PCPs completing all modules. Highest score for knowledge evaluation was observed in Module 1 (82.5%) while lowest score was in Module 3 (51.5%). Despite the decline in PCP engagement in last two modules, overall knowledge gain estimated was statistically not significant (P=0.13). Conclusion: This study underscores the value of IT-enabled education for PCPs in RA management, highlighting its potential to improve clinical knowledge despite challenges in engagement. Future programs should focus on optimizing content delivery and maintaining participant involvement to further enhance the effectiveness of educational interventions in RA management. Keywords: Rheumatoid Arthritis; Primary Care Physicians; Continued-medical Education; Knowledge Gain