Face-to-Face and Distance Education Modalities in the Training of Healthcare Professionals: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Carmem L E Souza,Cleidilene R Magalhães,Luciana B Mattos,Pedro Rosário,Airton T Stein

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01557

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an 18-month-long course in Family Health. The course was offered in two modalities, distance education and face-to-face learning. Dependent variables were as follows: self-regulation of learning, procrastination, the perception of self-efficacy, and academic performance. The course was attended by 27 health professionals (i.e., physicians, nurses, and dentists) working in the Brazilian Unified Health System. The investigation followed a quasi-experimental design. Participants in the two modalities achieved similar academic performance; and globally no statistically significant differences were found regarding the study variables. Findings, notwithstanding their importance for professional training in health, are preliminary and further research is needed on the effectiveness of training modalities distance education and face-to-face learning (e.g., focus groups, interviews, online monitoring). The educational implications of this study are discussed and analyzed considering specificities and differences of each modality.

Highlights

The Unified Health System was implemented in Brazil in 1990
The National Policy of Permanent Education in Health (NPPEH) has been developing methodologies based on the working reality of health professionals to build
Results of the Self-Regulated Learning, Academic Procrastination, Self-efficacy, and Academic Performance variables are presented in Supplementary Table S1

Summary

Introduction

The governmental law (i.e., No 8080) established as major principles the universality of access to health care, the comprehensive care, and the equity of actions for all citizens (Brasil, 1990) To ensure that these principles were translated into practice several changes were triggered in the Public Health services. The main challenge of the Primary Health Care model is to promote the orientation of health practices and actions in a comprehensive and continuous way. These orientations are likely to improve the quality of life of Brazilian people (Lopes et al, 2007; Brasil, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). The NPPEH has been developing methodologies based on the working reality of health professionals to build

Methods

Results

Conclusion