Impact of a structured heart failure continuing medical education program on knowledge among nurses and medical assistants

Background Heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, requiring coordinated multidisciplinary care. Nurses and medical assistants (MAs) play critical roles in patient monitoring, education, and medication adherence. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured HF Continuing Medical Education (CME) program in improving participants' knowledge and competency. Methods This retrospective pre–post study analysed data from two structured heart failure (HF) Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions conducted on separate dates. A total of 270 nurses and medical assistants who completed both pre- and post-session assessments were included. The CME content focused on HF pathophysiology, clinical recognition, and guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Knowledge was assessed using a standardized 20-item multiple-choice test administered immediately before and after the CME. The CME content and assessment tool were identical across both sessions. Mean pre- and post-test scores were compared using paired-samples *t* -tests, and item-level changes in the proportion of correct responses were analysed using McNemar's test. Results Among 270 nurses and medical assistants who completed both assessments, mean knowledge scores increased from 52.1 ± 15.9 pre-CME to 69.6 ± 20.2 post-CME, an absolute improvement of 17.6 points (95% CI 15.0 to 20.1). Item-level analysis using McNemar testing showed significant improvements in 14 of 19 analysable questions, with the largest gains observed for prevention of sudden cardiac death device knowledge (Question 10: +34.1 percentage points), HF biomarker identification (Question 3: +33.0 points), recognition of non–GDMT therapy (Question 9: +26.3 points), and recommended sodium intake (Question 17: +25.6 points). Knowledge of NYHA class for asymptomatic patients (Question 15) improved to 100% correct post-CME (post-test constant). Knowledge regarding GDMT continuation in patients with improved ejection fraction remained poor, with no improvement after the CME (16.3% vs 14.8%, *p* = 0.62). Conclusion The HF CME program resulted in a statistically significant and educationally meaningful improvement in knowledge among nurses and MAs. The large effect size supports the value of structured, evidence-based CME in strengthening frontline providers' competence and adherence to HF management guidelines.