SAT-023 - Online Medical Education Improves Primary Care Provider Competence and Confidence in the Diagnosis and Management of Endocrine Disorders

Background:
Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) are integral when screening for endocrine pathologies, yet hypercortisolism is frequently masked by common metabolic comorbidities like obesity & hypertension. This creates a "referral bottleneck," where patients are treated for misrecognized symptoms rather than the underlying causes. Consequently, suboptimal screening & management of these disorders remain a significant primary care gap. This study evaluates an online continuing medical education (CME) initiative targeting PCPs to improve screening & care of different endocrine disorders.

Methods:
Educational design included a “test, then teach” approach, with evidence-based feedback provided following each learner response. Data were collected from an online CME activity launched in August 2025. The study used a "Linked Learner Assessment" methodology, pairing individual pre- & post-assessment responses to quantify specific cognitive shifts among participating PCPs (n=231). Statistical significance was determined using McNemar’s test (P < .05) and Cohen’s d for effect size.

Results:
The intervention drove profound improvements, with PCPs 35x more likely to answer all case-based questions correctly post-education (1% Pre vs 35% Post; P < .001). Additional insights include:
• Baseline data highlighted a significant "screening disconnect," where 42% of PCPs screen < 25% of metabolic patients. This, paired with low diagnostic scores, confirms foundational gaps impeding referral pathways & diagnosis
• Education aligned PCPs with specialist guidelines for recurrent disease, increasing the selection of medical therapy from 58% to 86% . Concurrently, the passive strategy of "watchful waiting" dropped from 16% to 4%, signaling a readiness to intervene or refer for active treatment rather than delay.
• While lower baseline scores regarding treatment monitoring reflected the PCP’s primary role as a referrer rather than a manager, the intervention significantly improved competence in longitudinal care strategies (23% Pre vs 66% Post) . This efficacy confirms that PCPs are integral stakeholders in the multidisciplinary care team, actively seeking to stay abreast of advanced management developments to support long-term patient outcomes.

Conclusion
The online education successfully increased PCP competence in identifying and managing endocrine disorders. However, while knowledge surged, confidence remains "modest" (Post: 2.66/5) compared to specialists. This hesitation correlates with reported low screening volumes for eligible metabolic patients. Future initiatives must therefore pivot from "how to treat" to "when to suspect," providing PCPs the screening tools to clear the referral bottleneck.

Acknowledgements: This education was supported by an independent educational grant from Xeris Pharmaceuticals.

*Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO must not be released to the press or the public until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.*