A new app from ASCO University enables clinicians to earn Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points quickly, conveniently, and easily by answering questions on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The ASCO MOC app, available for iOS and Android devices, as well as on a mobile-friendly responsive website, gives users the flexibility to work toward MOC requirements anytime and anywhere that is most convenient for them. The app utilizes a repetitive spaced-education approach to learning, a proven method for knowledge retention.
ASCO University released the first MOC app course in January, and new courses will become available every 6 months. Users may choose to receive either two or five questions every other day, totaling 30 questions per course. Any question that is answered incorrectly will be cycled back into the pool of questions that the participant receives until he or she is able to answer it correctly. Once a participant has correctly answered all of the questions, he or she will be eligible to claim 10 MOC points, which can be submitted directly to the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) through the app. Questions may be answered at any time—users may choose to receive alerts notifying them when new questions are available. They can also set the app to “vacation mode” if they do not wish to receive new questions for a period of time.
To aid the learning process, all questions in the course are linked with corresponding abstracts, providing users the ability to quickly and easily receive more information about the topic. The app also indicates what percentage of participants answered the question correctly, allowing users to track their progress against that of their peers. “The MOC app is an easy and efficient way to accumulate MOC knowledge points—even for a low-tech person like me,” said Jamie H. Von Roenn, MD, FASCO, ASCO Senior Director of Education, Science, and Career Development.
Need for New MOC Opportunities
The ASCO University MOC app was born out of the 2013 ASCO App Idea Challenge, in which ASCO members were encouraged to submit concepts for a new oncology-related app for ASCO to develop. David Coffey, MD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, won the challenge with his suggestion for an app that could offer cancer care providers a convenient and accessible self-assessment opportunity.“ I am always looking for ways to improve my productivity, and mobile phone apps are a great way to take advantage of the pockets of downtime we have during the day,” Dr. Coffey said. “I envisioned an app that would allow oncologists to catch up on their medical education while earning MOC credit.”
The ASCO MOC app can be downloaded for free through Google Play and the Apple App Store. Individual courses can be purchased through the ASCO University Bookstore (store2.asco.org) or as an add-on in the ASCO membership renewal form. For more information on the MOC program, visit university.asco.org/moc. ASCO University is supported through the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO. ■
Originally printed in ASCO Connection. © American Society of Clinical Oncology. “Earn MOC Points on the Go with the New ASCO MOC App” ASCO Connection, March 2015: 40. All rights reserved.
