Impact of educational activities format, online or in-person, on behavior change in doctors

We know little about how the impact of in-person CPD compares to that of online CPD. <h3>Objective:</h3> We compared the impact of in-person versus online CPD courses on doctors’ behavior change. <h3>Methods:</h3> A first group attended in-person courses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a second group attended an online version of these courses. Behavioral intention was assessed using CPD-REACTION before and immediately after the courses. Self-reported behavior change was measured six months later. <h3>Results:</h3> We included the 82 registrants of the in-person courses (mean age: 52 ±10; men: 50%) and the 318 registrants of the online courses (mean age: 49 ±12; men: 63%). On a scale of 1 to 7, mean intention before in-person courses was 5.99 ±1.31 and 6.43 ±0.80 afterwards (average intention gain of 0.44; CI: 0.16-0.74; p=0.003) and mean intention before online courses was 5.53 ±1.62 and 5.98 ±1.40 afterwards (average intention gain of 0.45; CI: 0.30-0.58; p&lt;0.0001). The difference between course formats was not significant (p=0.80). Six months later, among those who had changed their behavior, the intention difference increased significantly (p=0.002) while it did not in the group of those who had not (p=0.223). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Behavioral intention of doctors increased after CPD courses, similarly regardless of whether the course format and an increase in intention signals more likelihood of behavior change at six months.