E-learning and an action model for promoting psychosocial health: knowledge transfer in a university

Abstract

Abstract Background Promotion of the psychosocial health of individuals, groups and society, is becoming an increasingly important task for healthcare professions. In the Department of Health Professions at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, an interdisciplinary team of professors and researchers developed an e-learning programme, which highlights a new action model. This innovative model guides health professionals in systematically utilizing health promotion and prevention, to promote psychosocial health among their target groups. Internationally, such a model does not exist. Therefore, it offers an new and systematic approach to promoting psychosocial health among various population health levels. Objectives 2019-2023: utilization of programme by department professors and researchers, and transfer of this knowledge to students, or to research projects (via internal marketing and incentives); integration of programme into interdisciplinary bachelor curriculum (via learning packages designed for use with students); national and international dissemination of the new model. How is the programme and model perceived among the professors and researchers? What is the models' relevance for public health? Results Preliminary results according to various professors, suggest that the programme is user-friendly and very useful. It has been integrated into the interdisciplinary bachelor curriculum. Researchers provided less feedback; however, ongoing incentives should result in its increased integration into research projects. Additional feedback is that the model is an innovative tool, and is relevant for health professionals at the international level. Its dissemination will begin in spring 2020, through its submission for publishing. Conclusions This e-learning programme and model are considered to be valuable and innovative. Upon publication, this systematic approach to improving the psychosocial health of target group(s) will be widely available for health professionals. Key messages An innovative action-model has been developed for the promotion of psychosocial health. A new understanding of how health promotion and prevention can applied to promote psychosocial health is offered.