The Practice Integrated Learning Sequence: Linking Education With the Practice of Medicine

Abstract

The Practice Integrated Learning Sequence (PILS) is an office-based, practice-related Continuing Medical Education (CME) process that incorporates the practice of medicine into an educational program. In this research, the PILS process was used in an educational program for the management of hypertension involving 1,013 physicians. Program data suggest that the PILS process can help physicians assess their practice needs by evaluating their practice behaviors in comparison to objective criteria. The results suggest the importance of designing CME programs that facilitate physicians' use and development of self-directed learning skills, particularly self-evaluation.