Audio-Digest produces >500 audio CME/CE programs each year. These programs are derived from lectures recorded at more than 450 CME/CE meetings across the country, always with permission of the sponsoring organizations and the lecturers involved.

Of the thousands of lectures recorded each year, only 12% to 15% are featured on Audio-Digest. Our goal is not to compete with other CME/CE providers, but to play a supporting role - highlighting the nation's premier CME/CE conferences.

Needs Assessment

• Audio-Digest's CME/CE Planning Committee provides overall guidance and direction in the development of CME/CE activities.
• Each audio CME/CE program includes a needs-assessment survey, asking participants to list topics they would like included on future programs and to identify problems in their practice setting.
• Audio-Digest editors review participants' requests for topics as well as scour current medical literature, expert opinions, specialty board competencies, etc to stay current in - and sometimes portend - advances and developments in clinical practice and healthcare trends.
• Each audio CME/CE program includes a 10-question test to be taken before and after listening to the program to demonstrate that learning has occurred.

Educational Objectives

The objective of Audio-Digest CME/CE activities is to update healthcare professionals on advances in the diagnosis and management of medical disorders. The primary goal of each activity is to provide practical information that will improve professional competence in caring for patients.

After hearing an Audio-Digest program, the clinician should be able to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of the various disorders discussed and obtain a clear understanding of the associated physiologic changes;
• Selectively apply and interpret newer diagnostic tests and procedures for a particular patient population;
• Initiate the appropriate treatment and, when indicated, refer the patient for further in-depth evaluation or intervention; and
• Critically evaluate and utilize recent advances in technology and pharmacology, when appropriate.

Design and Implementation

Here are the steps we take to produce our audio CME/CE product:

• Audio-Digest editors evaluate hundreds of upcoming medical meetings each year
• Permissions to record and to publish lectures are secured from meeting sponsors and faculty, respectively.
• Audio-Digest hires a local audio-recording company to record the meeting
• Complimentary copies of recordings are made for the meeting sponsor on request
• Audio-Digest's medical editors audition recorded lectures to select the best candidates for publication, paying attention to topic relevance, speakers' credentials, potential for bias, etc.
• Lectures selected for publication are edited to remove visual references, lengthy pauses, and any extraneous sounds
• Audio-Digest medical editors prepare accompanying study/test materials: written summary that includes educational objectives, faculty disclosures, and suggested reading; multiple-choice test question/evaluation survey.
• Audio-Digest's sound engineers enhance and fine-tune the audio-recordings in final preparation of the digital master for duplication on CD
• The audio program, and accompanying study/test materials are sent to participants by mail or made available to them online by subscription.

Evaluation

To earn CME credit or CE contact hours with Audio-Digest CME/CE programs, the participant must complete both the pretest (to assess the initial level of knowledge) and the posttest (to demonstrate that learning has occurred). The participant must achieve 80% or greater on the posttest to earn Category 1 CME credits* or CE contact hours. (Note: Doctors of Optometry (ODs) must achieve 70% or greater on the post-test to receive credit.)

Additionally, an evaluation survey is an integral component of each audio CME/CE program. Our evaluation form asks participants to respond to the following questions (Note: The first 5 questions use a 1-5 Likert scale ranging from "1=Strongly Agree" to "5=Strongly Disagree", and the last 3 questions are open-ended to capture verbatim responses):

• The activity met the stated learning objectives.
• The teaching/learning resources were effective.
• The speakers provided clear and relevant evidence-based content.
• The content was balanced and free of commercial bias.
• I would recommend this Audio-Digest activity to a colleague.
• Please share at least one strategy you learned from this activity that you have applied or will apply in caring for patients.
• On future CME/CE activities, what topics would best meet your educational needs and help you to improve your practice?
• Other comments and/or suggestions.

*AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™