ScientiaCME Free CME Courses

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Beta-thalassemia (BT) is a progressive, hereditary, microcytic, hypochromic form of anemia characterized by the reduced synthesis of hemoglobin subunit beta and the underproduction of hemoglobin A (HbA). Although there are limited data regarding the incidence of BT, historical estimates of BT have been placed at about 1 in 100,000 individuals. BT is most commonly found in patients with Mediterranean, the Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Indian, East Asian, and the North African heritage. BT is caused by a point mutation in the encoding gene for hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) on chromosome 11, which either results in lower beta-globin production (termed beta-plus [B⁺] or prevent cells from producing any beta-globin at all (termed beta-zero [B⁰]). The clinical severity the disease depends on the extent of β and γ chain imbalance; more than 350 genetic alterations that can cause BT have been identified.

There is a demonstrated variation in treatment between providers who practice at a beta thalassemia center of excellence (CoE) and those who do not, and those practitioners at CoEs demonstrate greater familiarity with beta thalassemia and its therapies, including butyrates, gene therapy, and luspatercept. Additional areas of educational need include transitioning patients from pediatric care, management of complications, and clinical trial updates.

Target Audience:

The following healthcare professionals: hematologists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in hematology; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who may clinically encounter patients with BT.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in adults worldwide, accounting for around one-third of mortality in the United States. High blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity are health conditions that can increase the risk of heart disease, and over half of American adults have at least one major risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events. In particular, T2DM is a risk factor, with CV events implicated in the mortality of two-thirds of patients with T2DM. About one and a half million new cases of diabetes mellitus are diagnosed in in the United States each year, and the incidence of T2DM is increasing owing in part to Western-style diets, sedentary lifestyle, and changing demographics, and the disease is the largest contributor to a number of vascular outcomes, including end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) and blindness in individuals under age 75. CKD is itself a major CVD risk factor and affects millions, yet the literature shows that patients with CKD are underserved with respect to CV risk reduction efforts.

This activity has been proposed to enhance the knowledge, competence, and performance of several members of HCPs in mitigating heart and kidney disease risk in patients with T2DM while addressing barriers to optimal care.

Target Audience:

The following HCPs: Endocrinologists, nephrologists, cardiologists, and primary care physicians; certified diabetes educators, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists who practice in diabetes and endocrinology; and any other HCPs with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with diabetes.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a progressive, multisystem, life-threatening disorder characterized by the extracellular deposition of misfolded, insoluble amyloid fibrils. As TTR is a protein present in human serum, and its role is to transport thyroxine and retinol-binding proteins, it is vital for behavior, cognition, nerve regeneration, and axonal growth. TTR itself is innately amyloidogenic even without the presence of genetic mutations. The familial variant of the disease (hATTR) is ATTR that is passed to offspring through autosomal dominant inheritance, whereas the wild type variant (wtATTR) refers to ATTR that occurs independently of genetic mutations. hATTR may present as late as mid-adulthood, but its symptoms usually start between the ages of 2 and 10 years. Left untreated, the average life expectancy of ATTR is 3 to 15 years from symptom onset.

Target Audience:

The following HCPs: neurologists, cardiologists, and hematologists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists in the aforementioned areas of specialty; and any other HCPs with an interest in or who may clinically encounter patients with ATTR.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Biosimilar drugs are products meant to be similar in quality, safety, and efficacy to an already licensed reference biotherapeutic product. Whereas generics are virtually identical replicas of conventional medications, biosimilars are not the same as the original product – a practically unavoidable outcome because of the considerably large molecular structure that biologics mimic. The literature suggests that learning activities focused on the evolving landscape of biosimilars, which are germane to the therapeutic area because of their potential role in cost containment. Both the FDA and medical literature independently affirm the need for clinician education on biosimilars, including: Comparative efficacy; adverse event rates and management (potential concerns have included immunogenicity); regulatory guidance on interchangeability and substitution – including prescribers retaining some degree of ability to intervene in a product’s substitution at the dispensing stage; and cost considerations.

Given the rapid expansion of these product types and the presence of gaps in the area of hematologic malignancies and oncologic and supportive care therapies, this activity has been designed to bring HCPs’ knowledge of biosimilar products in those areas up to date and to improve their competence and performance in employing them in practice.

Target Audience:

The following healthcare professionals: Hematologist-oncologists and medical oncologists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in oncology; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with hematologic malignancy or oncologic disease states who may receive treatment with biosimilars.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common congenital bleeding disorder worldwide. Affecting both male and female births in equal number, vWD is caused by a deficiency or defect in the von Willebrand factor (vWF) glycoprotein, which is responsible for mediating platelet and coagulation factor VIII function. vWD types 1 and 3 are caused by quantitative deficiencies in vWF. In contrast, type 2 vWD is caused by a qualitative defect in the production of vWF. Type 1 is the most common type of vWD, accounting for 60% to 70% of cases, followed by type 2, which is diagnosed in 25% to 30% of patients. Type 3 vWD, the rarest form, affects about 1 in 1,000,000 people. There is evidence that the use of factor VIII/vWF concentrates should be individualized, but no recent vWD guidelines address this issue. Although DDAVP is the treatment of choice for most type 1 vWD patients, data do not support the use of DDAVP for type 2B vWD owing in part to an increased risk for thrombocytopenia. Another practice gap is a lack of guidance around the appropriate ages at which patients with severe vWD are optimally initiated on vWF prophylaxis. Furthermore, although DDAVP is not contraindicated in pregnancy, 31% of physicians consider DDAVP a contraindication according to the results of one survey, illustrating a present area of controversy in practice.

Recent advances in replacement therapy with factor VIII/vWF concentrates have expanded treatment options. A few considerations may impact determination of best choice of agent, including hemostatic capacity and relative proportion of factor VIII. For these reasons and others, there has been a recent focus in individualizing replacement therapy in a manner that takes into account vWD type, thrombosis risk, and clinical indication and goals of therapy. Taking this information into account as well the fact that HCPs are oftentimes unable to keep up with the steady publishing of literature and evolution of clinical practice, continuing HCP education examining clinical decision-making and the appropriate selection of therapy is warranted.

Target Audience:

The following HCPs: hematologists and primary care physicians; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in hematology; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with vWD.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Glaucoma, a heterogeneous disease leading to progressive damage to the optic nerve, causes irreversible vision loss and affects approximately 64 million people worldwide.The prevalence of glaucoma is increasing, and more than 100 million people will have glaucoma by 2040. Approximately half of all individuals with glaucoma are unaware of their condition due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease. Although the incidence of glaucoma-related blindness has decreased over the last 20 years, thanks to effective management strategies, 13% to 40% of people with glaucoma still develop unilateral or bilateral blindness, typically at a rate of 1.1% per year.

Target Audience:

The following healthcare professionals: Ophthalmologists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists with an interest in ophthalmology or diseases affecting the eye; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with glaucoma.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Cultural competence has been defined in a variety of ways. According to the CDC, cultural competence is a “set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations.” In the setting of healthcare, practicing cultural competence can improve the ability of HCPs to meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients, which may ultimately improve health outcomes among diverse groups of patients with unique sociocultural identities including race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.

Target Audience:

The following healthcare professionals: Physicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other HCPs.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online CME self-learning program: Opioid use disorder (OUD) affects millions of individuals globally and is best defined by the DSM-5 as a condition due to tolerance, manifestation of physical dependence, and loss of control, which in turn leads to health hazards. The prevalence of OUD and the resultant impact on people is staggering, an estimated 130 people die from opioid overdoses every day. Moreover, the prevalence of OUD is increasing rapidly in concurrence with the widespread availability of opioids, with an estimated 60 prescriptions per 100 patients.

^{Professional societies, non-governmental organizations, and governmental agencies have all recommended a comprehensive public health approach to identifying and managing OUD, which will require the involvement of HCPs across specialties and regions. Implementing a comprehensive multidisciplinary cascade of care for patients with OUD will also necessitate that HCPs embrace new resources to deliver innovative and accessible health care. These resources may include novel prescription digital therapeutics, telemedicine, and engagement of non-physician HCPs who can provide support, counseling, and, in some cases, prescribing.}

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals specializing in: Addiction, pain management, primary care, family medicine, psychiatry; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists who practice in pain management or substance abuse; and any other health professionals who encounter OUD in the clinical setting.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online CME self-learning activity:

According to the CDC, there are more than 1.1 million people aged thirteen and older living with HIV (PLWH). Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s, advances in public health initiatives and treatments have considerably lengthened the life expectancy of PLWH, and as they have begun to live longer, the number of patients with chronic HIV infection has greatly increased. What was once acute inpatient care of the dying has become outpatient chronic disease management with an emphasis on a long-term balancing act that involves the consideration of comorbidities, drug interactions, and adverse drug events in an aging HIV population.

Projections suggest that there may soon be a shortage of HIV providers. To avoid the imminent shortfall of HIV specialists, PCPs to manage HIV infection, comorbidities, and sequelae is critical to meeting the demand for HIV care. The quality of HIV care experienced PCPs provide is substantially similar to that of infectious disease specialists, but research shows that nearly 40% of PCPs and residents do not feel comfortable providing comprehensive services for PLWH in all disease stages.

Target Audience:

HCPs specializing in: primary care; family medicine; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in primary care; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with HIV.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online CME self-learning activity:

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania, hypomania, and depression. It affects 3-4% of the U.S. population, represents a substantial societal and economic burden in the United States, is also found to be strongly associated with other major public health concerns like diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as suicide.

The literature demonstrates that medication nonadherence is a major issue among patients with bipolar disorder. Nonadherence affects approximately 60% of patients and can result in hospitalization, poor effectiveness, increased relapses, and increased risk of morbidity. Other factors, such as patient perceptions, illness severity, and the relationship between the physician and patient, come into play and should be taken into account to optimize adherence.

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals specializing in: family medicine, internal medicine, mental health, neurology and psychiatry, or those who otherwise commonly care for patients with bipolar or related psychiatric diseases.