Audience assessment of bias in continuing medical education programs.
Several investigators are developing tools to help mitigate bias in CME programs. Many CME providers ask audiences about perceived bias as part of their program-monitoring processes; it is uncertain, however, that audiences are able to detect bias reliably or consistently. Lack of a common definition of bias makes it difficult to compare bias assessments between programs or CME providers. Additionally, personal bias can be present in CME programs even in the absence of industry program support or industry-speaker relationships. We are developing a tool that asks CME participants to rate specific aspects of CME programs to create a more objective and consistent assessment of bias and balance in and across CME programs.