STANDARD 3: EVIDENCE BASED
Standard 3: The content of a Learning Activity will be balanced, evidence-based, fair and objective.
REQUIRED ELEMENTS TO MEET THE STANDARD
3.1 The content of a Learning Activity will be:
a) Accurate and complete;
b) Aligned with the Learning Objectives;
c) At a level of complexity appropriate to the audience;
d) Based on consideration of relevant and current clinical practice guidelines; and
e) Based on current best available evidence.
3.2 The Learning Activity will be reviewed by independent, external subject matter experts (i.e., expert review) prior to submission.
a) The expert reviewer process requires the completion of an Expert Reviewer Release Statement.
b) The Author/Provider must prepare and submit an Author’s response to the Expert Reviewers’ comments which states how the Author has addressed the concerns/issues raised by the expert reviewers.
c) The expert reviewers must sign the declaration in the Expert Reviewer Release Statement form indicating they have reviewed and approved, without conditions, the version of the Learning Activity being submitted for Accreditation.
3.3 Generic names will be used in all learning activities and by presenters (where applicable).
The use of a trade, brand or product name is allowed only:
a) In certain circumstances, such as when it is needed for patient safety reasons or to avoid confusion between products, which must be declared and explained by the Author/presenter in the Disclosure/Conflict-of-Interest form submitted to CCCEP; and
b) Where the use of trade names is required by another health education Accreditation organization.
Where a brand name is used, based on a and b above, it must be included in a bracket after the generic name.
3.4 A presenter/Author will ensure that all off-label and personal opinions/experience statements are clearly declared to CCCEP and to learners.
3.5 a) References that support the content of a Learning Activity will be provided.
b) References will be current, relevant, and credible; and reflect a balanced representation of the best available research evidence. Where possible, references will be from peer-reviewed sources.
c)References should be provided in a consistent and standard format such as AMA (American Medical Association), Vancouver, APA (American Psychological Association), Harvard, MLA (Modern Language Association), Chicago/ Turabian.
d) A short version of a reference (e.g., footnotes) may be used, provided there is sufficient information to easily find the reference and a list with the full reference information is accessible by the learner.
e) A reference with a brand or corporate name may be used once. A short version of the reference which excludes the brand or corporation name will be used for each subsequent use.
f) If a product monograph is used as a reference, then the full reference to the product monograph will be used once. Subsequent references to the product monograph will be phrased “Product Monograph #”.
3.6 A Learning Activity about a unique product (i.e., drug, device, service, technology) may be accredited if it:
- Focuses on the health condition and its treatment; and
- Provides full evidence regarding the product and its appropriate use in a comparative context with other products.
