August 15, 2001

Physicians in the United States, Canada, and Mexico

Physicians with current and valid licenses in the United States, Canada, or Mexico who read any 3 of the selected continuing medical education (CME) articles in this issue of JAMA, complete the CME Evaluation Form, and fax it to the number or mail it to the address at the bottom of the CME Evaluation Form are eligible for category 1 CME credit. There is no charge.

The American Medical Association (AMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor CME for physicians. The AMA designates this educational activity for up to 1 hour of category 1 CME credit per JAMA issue toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). Each physician should claim for credit only those hours that were actually spent in this educational activity.

Physicians in Other Countries

Physicians with current and valid licenses in the United States, Mexico, or Canada are eligible for CME credit even if they live or practice in other countries. Physicians licensed in other countries are also welcome to participate in this CME activity. However, the PRA is available only to physicians licensed in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

Earning Credit and the CME Evaluation Form

To earn credit, read 3 of the articles listed below that are designated for CME credit carefully and complete the CME Evaluation Form. The CME Evaluation Form must be submitted within 1 month of the issue date. A certificate awarding 1 hour of category 1 CME credit will be faxed or mailed to you; it is then your responsibility to maintain a record of credit received.

One of our goals is to assess continually the educational needs of our readers so we may enhance the educational effectiveness of JAMA. To achieve this goal, we need your help. You must complete the CME Evaluation Form to receive credit.

Statement of Educational Purpose

JAMA is a general medical journal. Its mission and educational purpose is to promote the science and art of medicine and the betterment of the public health. A flexible curriculum of article topics is developed annually by THE JOURNAL's editorial board and is then supplemented throughout the year with information gained from readers, authors, reviewers, and editors. To accommodate the diversity of practice types within JAMA's readership, the Reader's Choice CME activity allows readers, as adult learners, to determine their own educational needs and to assist the editors in addressing their needs in future issues.

Readers of JAMA should be able to attain the following educational objectives: (1) select and read at least 3 articles in 1 issue to gain new medical information on topics of particular interest to them as physicians, (2) assess the articles' value to them as practicing physicians, and (3) think carefully about how this new information may influence their own practices. The educational objective for each CME article is given after the article title below.

CME Articles in This Issue of JAMA

Recalls and Safety Alerts Involving Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Generators (SEE ARTICLE)

Educational Objective: To learn that recall rates for pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are increasing.

Status of Clinical Research in Academic Health Centers: Views From the Research Leadership (SEE ARTICLE)

Educational Objective: To learn that many academic health centers may have to expand and support their clinical research workforces to remain competitive.

Exposure to Soy-Based Formula in Infancy and Endocrinological and Reproductive Outcomes in Young Adulthood (SEE ARTICLE)

Educational Objective: To compare long-term health outcomes for persons fed soy or cow milk formulas in infancy.

Bone Mineral Density Response to Estrogen Replacement in Frail Elderly Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial (SEE ARTICLE)

Educational Objective: To learn that hormone replacement therapy may increase bone mineral density in frail elderly women.

Comparison of Evidence of Treatment Effects in Randomized and Nonrandomized Studies (SEE ARTICLE)

Educational Objective: To compare treatment effects measured in randomized vs nonrandomized trials.

Liver Enzyme Monitoring in Patients Treated With Troglitazone (SEE ARTICLE)

Educational Objective: To learn that drug labeling changes and warning letters to physicians may have little effect on patient monitoring for adverse drug effects.

Strategies to Decrease Tuberculosis in US Homeless Populations: A Computer Simulation Model (SEE ARTICLE)

Educational Objective: To learn that increasing access to care for homeless persons with active tuberculosis may result in greater declines in mortality than improving the effectiveness of treatment programs.

After reading 3 of these articles, complete the CME Evaluation Form.