Continuing Education Sessions Research Articles

Well-Being Outcomes of Health Care Workers After a 5-Hour Continuing Education Intervention

Compromised well-being in health care workers (HCWs) is detrimental to the workforce, organizations, and patients. To test the effectiveness of Well-Being Essentials for Learning Life-Balance (WELL-B), a web-based continuing education program to deliver brief, evidence-based, reflective, psychological interventions to improve 4 dimensions of HCW well-being (ie, emotional exhaustion, emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration). A randomized clinical trial (RCT) of US inpatient and outpatient HCWs randomized 1:1 was conducted from January 3 through May 31, 2023, using a web-based intervention. Cohort 1 received 5 hours of WELL-B over 8 days; cohort 2 acted as the control group and received WELL-B after the end of the RCT. Eligibility criteria were US HCWs aged 18 years or older, including clinical (physician, nurse, and respiratory therapist) and nonclinical (administrative, information technology, and finance) roles. Continuing education sessions exposed participants to positive psychology interventions (gratitude letter, work-life integration, self-compassion and cultivating awe). The primary outcome was emotional exhaustion on day 8; secondary outcomes included emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration. All outcomes were measured using psychometrically valid scales previously reported in well-being RCTs and were assessed on days 1 and 8 (primary end point). Differences in outcome measures between the WELL-B intervention group and controls were assessed using t tests. Baseline-adjusted multiple linear regression models were evaluated to examine the association between the WELL-B intervention and the outcome measures after adjusting for additional covariates (sex, race and ethnicity, age, HCW role, and discipline). Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. The cohorts were similar at baseline, mostly female (528 [89%]) and nurses (177 [30%]). A total of 643 respondents participated in the study. In cohort 1, 331 participants initiated WELL-B, and 262 (71%) completed the day 8 follow-up; in cohort 2, 312 participants initiated WELL-B and 291 (77%) completed the day 8 follow-up. Compared with the control cohort, WELL-B significantly improved emotional exhaustion (estimate: -9.0; 95% CI, -13.1 to -4.9; P < .001), emotional thriving (estimate: 6.6; 95% CI, 3.2-10.0; P < .001), emotional recovery (estimate: 5.5; 95% CI, 2.0-9.0; P = .002), and work-life integration (estimate: -5.0; 95% CI, -8.2 to -1.9; P = .002). After adjusting for baseline outcome measures, sex, race and ethnicity, age, HCW role, and discipline, the linear regression model showed WELL-B improved day 8 emotional exhaustion (estimate: -9.6; 95% CI, -12.5 to -6.6; P < .001) compared with the control group. Favorable impressions of WELL-B were reported by more than 90% of the participants. In this RCT, brief well-being activities delivered during continuing education sessions improved short-term HCW emotional exhaustion, emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration, with and without adjusting for covariates. Health care worker impressions of WELL-B were positive. These findings suggest that WELL-B is a beneficial intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05636072.

Advocating for Rediscovering Meaningful Engagement in OT Practice

Abstract Date Presented 03/22/24 The study evaluates the effectiveness of a continuing education session by examining practitioners’ knowledge, attitude, and use of meaningful engagement (ME). Results suggest a need for clearer methods to teach ME and increased support in practice. Primary Author and Speaker: Sarah Miller Additional Authors and Speakers: Sevahna Crofford, Libby Ball, Laura Schmelzer

The perception of artificial intelligence: Insights from MRI technologists in radiology practices

ObjectiveAs artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly integrates into healthcare sectors globally, it becomes crucial to examine its impact within specific contexts. This study aims to explore MRI technologists' perceptions towards AI in radiology in Saudi Arabia and to identify the demographic factors influencing these perceptions. MethodologyA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 128 MRI technologists in Saudi Arabian healthcare facilities. The 10-question survey captured key aspects of their perceptions towards AI integration. Statistical analyses using R software included logistic regression to identify significant associations between demographic factors and AI perceptions. Odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values were computed, with statistical significance set at an alpha level of 0.05. ResultsThe survey results indicated that a significant majority (84.4%) of technologists agree that AI will play a crucial role in the future of radiology. Higher education levels were significantly associated with positive perceptions of AI (OR 1.75, p = 0.028). Male technologists and those aged 40–49 showed more pronounced apprehensions about AI's disruptions. Specifically, the odds ratio for male technologists perceiving AI will disrupt MRI practice was 2.05 (p = 0.009), and for those aged 40–49, the odds ratio was 1.60 (p = 0.013). The odds ratio for male technologists believing AI will disrupt careers was 1.85 (p = 0.012), and for those aged 40–49, it was 1.50 (p = 0.030). Additionally, the odds of believing AI integration will not change their work were significantly higher among males (OR 2.25, p = 0.002). ConclusionThese findings highlight the need for targeted educational programs and support initiatives for MRI technologists in Saudi Arabia. Addressing the concerns of apprehensive groups, particularly older and male technologists, through continuous education and realistic information sessions can facilitate smoother AI integration. These initiatives are essential for aligning AI advancements with Saudi Arabian cultural and professional standards, ensuring a prepared and supportive workforce.

Effectiveness of Online Interactive Education in Dental Radiology

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an interactive education approach in oral and maxillofacial radiology for dentists, utilizing the online interactive educational program Mentimeter. Seven continuing education sessions for dentists in oral and maxillofacial radiology were conducted employing Mentimeter. Following these sessions, surveys gauged participants' responses to the learning method and its effectiveness. The questionnaire comprised 20 questions categorized into convenience, active learning, academic achievement, time management, and lecture quality. Among about 300 participants, 222 responded to the survey, with 74 (33.3%) having prior experience in similar education. Across categories of active learning, academic achievement, and lecture quality, participants consistently rated the method with an average score exceeding 4 out of 5, indicating a highly positive response. Statistically significant gender differences were observed in 9 out of 20 questions, with female respondents providing more positive evaluations than males. Respondents without prior similar education reported enhanced focus and understanding compared to those with experience. No statistically significant differences were observed in other survey questions. In the realm of continuing education in oral and maxillofacial radiology for dentists, the interactive educational program Mentimeter emerges as an effective tool, fostering positive academic achievements through active learning.

An Internal Medicine Learning Collaborative Facilitating a Virtual Continuing Medical Education Program in Guyana and the Wider Caribbean During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To collaborate and share medical knowledge between US and Caribbean physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic via a free online continuing medical education (CME) series. Method: This was a multi-institution collaborative effort between the Southern Regional Area Health Education Center and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, both located in North Carolina, USA, and its Caribbean partners, the Guyana Medical Council and Ministry of Health, and the University of the West Indies Medical Alumni Association, Jamaica. The lecture series ran from July 2021 to October 2022. The Zoom (Zoom Video Communications Inc., San Jose, CA, USA) meeting platform was used for the monthly lectures on the fourth Thursday between 7 and 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Results: Analysis of program data from July 2021 through October 2022 (excluding December 2021) found 1,105 unique individuals engaged in the 15 continuing education sessions. The series had a cumulative total of 2,411 participants, with a mean session participation of 161 and a range of 94 to 299 participants per lecture. An outcome survey assessing the reasons for attendance identified that the most significant factors in their participation in the series were: a) the quality of educational content (83.21%), b) the ease of access and Zoom platform (81.76%), and c) the lectures being offered at no cost (61.31%), and 80.84% gained new medical knowledge leading to practice changes. Conclusion: The Internal Medicine Learning Collaborative (IMLC) model can be easily replicated by following the steps outlined. It overcomes barriers such as travel and quarantine restrictions and is cost-effective to initiate and maintain. It allows physicians with access to resources and specialty training in the United States to share medical knowledge with colleagues in the developing world where such access may be limited, thus promoting health care and continuing education activity in their respective regions using freely available technologies.

Education for Health Care Providers on Implementation of Trauma-Informed Care in Practice.

Traumatic experiences can adversely affect a child's health. These effects often continue into adulthood, especially when trauma is not addressed. Although the evidence shows benefits with addressing trauma earlier in life, trauma-informed care of children is underused in primary care. Health care providers (nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians) report gaps in knowledge of trauma-informed care and in their comfort level addressing trauma in primary care. This project investigated the use of continuing education sessions to increase health care providers' knowledge and readiness to implement trauma-informed care into their practice. The education sessions improved health care providers' knowledge and comfort with trauma-informed care. This intervention improved providers' readiness to implement trauma-informed care into their primary care practice. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(5):246-252.].

The Perceived Effectiveness of Online vs Physical Continuous Medical Education Sessions among Malaysian Doctors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Ever since the pandemic, many educational platforms have gone online including Continuing Medical Education (CME). The objective of this study was to identify perceived focus and perceptions of both modes amongst Malaysian doctors. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from May to June 2020 via an online questionnaire. The researchers sent out the questionnaire to doctors via social media to study the perceived focus amongst attendees. We included all those who claimed to have participated in both types of CME previously. The final analysis included 357 respondents. The mean age of respondents was 46.54 (SD:17.52) years and the mean duration of practice was 21.46 (13.61) years. From the total, 46.5% of them were General Practitioners (GPs) and 49.9% were from the private sector. From the total, 60.4% of them participated in the online CME from their homes and 51.7% of them accessed it via their handphones. In a 60-minute CME activity, the perceived ability to focus (focus which participant perceive to have had/attained) in a physical CME was 32.94 (SD: 13.17) minutes and 32.65 (12.61) minutes for online CME (p=0.76). The perceived attention span and participation were better in a physical CME (both p&lt;0.001) and attention was mainly diverted to do other things during the meeting for online CME (p&lt;0.001). Although online CME was convenient during the pandemic, many participants felt they had a shorter attention span, less participation and had some attention diversion during online CME. Improving participation and attention span for online CME is very much needed.

Effectiveness of half-day interactive continuing medical education workshop in improving oncologists’ knowledge in prescribing opioids

Background: Patients with cancer commonly experience persistent pain, and opioids have remained the mainstay of pain treatment because of their rapid effectiveness in treating moderate to severe pain. As medicine progresses, we need to establish continuous medical education sessions to educate, update, and establish competency in opioid prescribing in cancer patients. Aim: The objective of this study was to explore whether continuing medical education interventions improve oncologists’ knowledge about pain management when prescribing opioids. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional prospective pre- post-test study. Continuing medical education workshops lasting three identical half-days was offered in 2019. Training sessions were held at the Princess Noorah Oncology Education Center. A total of 40 participants were recruited from a single discipline (oncology) rather than from multiple disciplines for the workshops. The continuing medical education program included six lectures and case presentations. An assessment of 16 multiple-choice questions (case scenario format) with four options was administered to the participants before the training workshop. Results: The mean scores of the participants’ knowledge increased from 9.48 (pre-test) to 11.93 (post-test). This improvement was statistically significant (p &lt; 0.001). A novel finding of this study is that continuing medical education lasting a half-day is as effective as a one-day workshop and even superior to traditional continuing medical education lasting two days. Conclusions: A half-day continuing medical education program significantly improved physicians’ knowledge of prescribing opioids in cancer patients. This study suggests that a well-designed continuing medical education program is essential for its success.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE TOWARDS ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERURICEMIA AND GOUT AMONG FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENTS IN KING SAUD MEDICAL CITY IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, 2023: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introduction: Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia is defined as blood serum urate concentration above 6mg/dl (357 μmol/L) for women and above 7mg/dl (416 μmol/L) for men. It is important to highlight that in Saudi Arabia, family medicine residents encounter multiple cases of AH and gout. Thus, it would be of significance to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding AH and gout. Methodology: A cross-sectional hospital-based descriptive study. The study was conducted in King Saud Medical City Riyadh -in June 2023, among all family medicine residents training in King Saud Medical City Riyadh. Consecutive sampling was implemented. Full coverage of all family medicine residents training in King Saud Medical City Riyadh (n= 119). Results: This study included a total of 117. 87(74.7%) have an experience of 1-3 years. About one quarter of participants (26.5%) attended continuing medical education (CME) on asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) or gout. 83(70.9%) have moderate knowledge, and 75(64.1%) have moderate practice, and 22(18.8%) have good practice. Participants level of knowledge was found to be significantly associated with reading about asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) or gout in the last year and being aware with the guidelines on the management of both AH and gout (P&lt; .05). On the other hand, level of practice was found to be associated significantly with reading about asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) or gout in the last year only (P= .04). Conclusions: More than half of patients showed moderate level of knowledge and favorable attitude towards AH and gout. Majority of residents showed moderate level of practice towards management of AH and gout. Significant association was found between level of knowledge and attending continuous medical education sessions (P &lt; .05). Significant association was also found between level of practice and patients level of knowledge (P &lt; .05).

Evaluating the Knowledge Change Before and After Continuing Cancer Education in Malawian Nurses.

Malawi has a high cancer incidence and mortality. Efforts to train and educate oncology nurses have been identified as an area of need. This study evaluates the educational needs of oncology nurses in Malawi and the effects of a virtual cancer education program on improving the knowledge of cancer epidemiology, treatment, and nursing care of common cancers among oncology nurses in Malawi. The educational programs consisted of four sessions at one-month intervals focused on Cancer Screening, Survivorship, Radiation Therapy, and Complementary and Alternative Therapies. A pretest-posttest design was used. Overall, there was an increase in knowledge at each session: cancer screening (47% vs 95%), survivorship (22% vs 100%), radiation therapy (66% vs 100%), and complementary and alternative therapies (63% vs 88%). Using virtual continuing education sessions is an effective tool to enhance the knowledge of oncology nurses in Malawi. These education sessions can serve as an example of how other Schools of Nursing and cancer centers in high-resource countries can collaborate with hospitals and Schools of Nursing in low- and middle-resource countries to support the advancement of oncology nursing knowledge, and ultimately, oncologic care.

Specialized competency framework for pharmacists in managerial positions in sales and marketing (SCF-PMSM): development, validation, and correlates

BackgroundPharmacists in sales and marketing roles need specific skills for managerial positions, and a framework for evaluating and developing these competencies is necessary. Currently, no such framework is known to exist.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and validate a specialized competency framework for pharmacists in sales and marketing managerial positions and assess correlates related to the competency domains.MethodsThis web-based study carried out between March and October 2022 enrolled a convenient sample of 60 pharmacists with managerial positions in sales and marketing, contacted by phone, working in the field of sales and marketing from the five governorates of Lebanon (Beirut, Beqaa, Mount Lebanon, South, and North).ResultsThe framework demonstrated good construct and structural validity in all domains except for emergency preparedness, which had a low correlation with other domains. Competencies were well correlated with respective domains, and behaviors had excellent loadings on corresponding competencies. As for the correlates of the competency domains, males were more confident than females (p < .05), and participants with more experience (or heavier workload) reported higher competency levels (p < .05), particularly for upper management skills, communication skills, and professional practice. Further, education level was not significantly correlated with declared competency, with experience being the most cited source of competence (68.25%), followed by postgraduate degrees (42.48%) and continuing education sessions (33.93%), while undergraduate education was the least reported (29.5%).ConclusionThis study could develop and validate the Specialized Competency Framework for Pharmacists in Managerial Positions in Sales and Marketing (SCF-PMSM) among a sample of Lebanese pharmacists. This framework demonstrated good reliability, content, construct, and structural validity in all the domains, with the competencies being well correlated with their respective domains and behaviors having excellent loadings on related competencies, except for emergency preparedness and response. It also revealed a mismatch between what is taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and the needs in practice.

Cultivating COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Pharmacy Professionals.

Pharmacists promote vaccinations and challenge misconceptions about vaccine hesitancy, yet pharmacists' knowledge of vaccine confidence has not been assessed. The objective of this study was to compare pharmacists' knowledge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine confidence before and after a live continuing education (CE) session. This pretest-posttest study evaluated the differences before and after a live CE session on COVID-19 vaccine confidence provided to pharmacists at a nationwide health technology company. Participants' total pretest and posttest scores were compared using paired t-tests, while pretest and posttest scores for each item were compared using chi-squared tests. A Bonferroni correction was applied, resulting in an alpha level of 0.005. A total of 279 pharmacists participated in this study. After the CE session, mean knowledge scores increased (5.2 ± 1.5 to 7.4 ± 1.35, p < 0.0001). After the CE session, there was no significant increase in pharmacists' knowledge about the approach that is not recommended when discussing vaccination beliefs with a patient (71.3% to 77.4%, p = 0.099), determinants of vaccine uptake (83.9% to 87.8%, p = 0.182), and social determinants of health that can influence vaccination rates (93.6% to 96.4%, p = 0.121). There was a significant change in pre- and posttest knowledge for the remaining seven items.

The Experience of Palliative Care Nurses in Qatar During the Time of COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of significant confusion and fear for healthcare workers as they try to maintain some sense of normalcy within their daily practices. One of the many areas affected by this pandemic has been palliative care. Palliative care nurses were thrust into a world of chaos as they faced increasing numbers of patients who were in the process of dying. The aim of this research was to explore the caring experiences of palliative care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative interpretive description design was used to explore the experience of nurses caring for dying patients in a palliative care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-two nurses working in a palliative care unit participated in this study. Data were collected during 1.5- to 2-hour focus group sessions that were guided by open-ended questions. The collected data were analyzed and coded into themes, including (a) transitioning to the new normal, (b) ethical dilemmas, and (c) collaboration and support for fellow colleagues. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet ended, this study provides relevant implications for practice. These implications include (a) holding continuing education sessions to help nurses better understand the meaning of pandemic conditions and how best to respond and (b) supporting nurses to better cope with the additional burdens faced because of increased patient loads. Overall, the nurses in this study were shown to have demonstrated reliance and resilience in the face of COVID-19.

Caring for breastfeeding mothers in disaster relief camps: A call to innovation in nursing curriculum

<h2>Abstract</h2> During natural disasters, people are forced to flee their homes and resettle in temporary disaster relief camps (such as huts, tents, and transitional shelters) that are often located on barren ground, far from cities. Disaster relief camps are one of the most vulnerable settings where women are at risk of discontinuing their breastfeeding practices. A critical ethnographic study undertaken with the internally displaced mothers residing in disaster relief camps in Pakistan revealed that the availability of formal support from healthcare professionals is one of the key determinants that shape the breastfeeding experiences of the displaced mothers. Hence suggested the need for innovative strategies in the nursing curriculum to build the capacity of nurses to provide culturally sensitive care to breastfeeding mothers affected by disaster and displacement. Considering these findings, it is recommended that nursing educational settings must include courses on "caring for the vulnerable population during a disaster" at the baccalaureate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. The inclusion of these courses will foster nurses to understand the needs of the displaced community, identify the importance of making a difference through collaborative work, and take part in designing innovative interventions (surrounding health, housing, economic upliftment, and well-being) for the displaced communities. Moreover, onsite clinical experience in disaster relief camps is recommended. This will enhance nurses' competence, hands-on skills, knowledge, and cultural sensitivity while providing care to displaced mothers with a variety of clinical presentations and breastfeeding concerns. Continuing education sessions and seminars must be organized for nurses to update their knowledge about breastfeeding and facilitate evidence-based practice in the setting of disaster relief camps.

Motivational factors influencing nurses’ participation in continuing education sessions: A hospital-based study

In order to stay up-to-date in the nursing field, nurses must pursue continuous education. This study examined nurses’ motivations to take part in continuing education activities by conducting a survey amongst a sample of nurses employed in two hospitals in south-east Morocco. The survey was carried out using a two-part self-administered questionnaire. Out of 144 nurses who received the questionnaire, 118 (84%) replied. The results showed that the majority of nurses have never participated in a continuing education session in the last 3 years. Respondents’ motivation for continuing education was mainly intrinsic, with the emphasis on factors related to professional competence and knowledge seeking. The use of such results can therefore be of great use to both managers and practitioners in planning continuing education programmes. However, it is desirable that more studies take place to investigate further the issue of continuing education with the aim of promoting and developing professional nursing skills.

Assessment of Nurses Knowledge And Skill about Intravenous Fluid Administration

Infusion therapy is one of the major responsibilities of nurses. In dealing with intravenous infusion, nurses must have knowledge and skill about what is ordered, and any possible side effects that may occur. This study aims to assess the nurses’ knowledge and skill about intravenous fluid administration. Subjects and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was carried out in Heevi teaching hospital for the period from 4th of&nbsp; January to 7th of February 2022. This study was conducted on probability (random) sample of (30) nurses who provide direct care for patients during the study period. Data were collected using three tools; socio-demographic data, nurses' knowledge questionnaire and nurses' skill checklist about intravenous infusion therapy. Results: The present study revealed that (63.3 %) of the nurses were needed knowledge and (40 %) of the nurses were needed skill. The study revealed that there was a significant statistical correlation between nurses’ knowledge and age, level of education, also&nbsp;&nbsp; there was a significant statistical correlation between nurses’ skill and level of education, years of service. Conclusion: Nurses’ knowledge and skill of intravenous fluid therapy was poor. Targeted educational intervention strategies on IV fluid therapy through continuous nursing education sessions or workshops should be conducted regularly with a specific focus on the ionic composition of IV fluids, their indications, and monitoring for associated complications, where deficiencies were most notable

Continuing Profound Impact of Continued Education Sessions on Blood Bank Specimen Labeling Years Later at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center

Abstract Introduction/Objective Proper patient identification is a critical safety element for transfusion medicine, particularly for the prevention of acute hemolytic transfusion reactions (AHTR). Mislabeled specimens have been documented to carry an increased risk of patient misidentification. Therefore, the submission of a mislabeled specimen to the blood bank generally results in a specimen rejection with a redraw. At the Philadelphia Veteran Affairs Medical Center, an identification bracelet with alphanumeric code is used to help improve transfusion safety but also has additional patient labeling requirements. The redrawing of blood bank specimens poses risks in phlebotomy, and a quality improvement initiative was previously undertaken to educate staff on proper blood specimen and band labeling and usage to prevent labeling errors, improve safety in patient care, and reduce intended redraws. Methods/Case Report Colorful laminated posters delineating the labeling requirements and process for blood bank specimens collected using the blood bank system were made and distributed at the time of in-service training by the blood bank in 2017 to the areas of the hospital whereby errors had been noted to occur in the past. The dedicated in-service training was repeated prior to the change in the identification blood band from the Hollister Ident-ATM Blood Recipient Band (Precision Diagnostics Corporation, Valencia CA) to the Typenex Blood Bands (Typenex Medical, Chicago IL) on 11/12/2019. As part of the quality metrics of the blood bank, blood bank specimen labeling errors was tracked from 2017 to track the persistence of the effect of the initial training. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) The percentage of properly labeled specimens as a percentage of total specimens increased after the in-service training; specifically, an increase from a low of 97% (December 2017) to a high of 99% (August 2018). The percentage of properly labeled specimens remains at the increased level of 99% and above even at the 4.5-year mark in mid-2022. Conclusion The continued availability of laminated educational posters on blood specimen labeling for the clinical service areas combined with initial in-service education can have lasting effects to improve the quality of care even years after the initial in-service education sessions.

Effect of Online Training in the Continuing Education of Nurses in Hospitals in the Casablanca-Settat Region

Context: Nowadays, e-Learning has become essential for the continuing education of health professionals, especially in developing countries. Its introduction in health care settings guarantees better opportunities for disseminating knowledge and skills. Objective: This study aimed to measure the effects of online training “E-learning” on the learning outcomes of nurses in two hospitals in the Casablanca-Settat region with the course “Health planning” as a training theme. Methods: This study is an experimental type, including an experimental group that benefited from online training (B, n2 = 30) and a Control group that benefited from face-to-face training (A, n1 = 30). We used a questionnaire to evaluate the nurses' knowledge (general and procedural) in pre and post-training and a questionnaire to evaluate the nurses' satisfaction with using e-learning in continuing education. Results: The results show a positive effect of online training on nurses' learning through an increase in knowledge (general and procedural) after comparing the average score in pre and post-training (The p-value is less than 0.05). Also, high satisfaction with the content covered, the methodology used in the e-Learning, and the quality of the platform. Conclusion: These results should encourage and motivate those responsible for continuing education to adopt online training as a complementary and promising solution to ensure flexible and continuous continuing education sessions for healthcare personnel.

Prevalence and Clinical Aspects of Hemophilia in the Western Region of Cameroon

Introduction: Hemophilia is a constitutional defect in blood clotting related to a clotting factor deficiency. Its remains a major public health problem, mainly due to ignorance of the disease, limited screening capacities and access to treatment in sub-Saharan Africa and particularly in Cameroon. It causes heavy bleeding in the absence of adequate management. Few reports are available about the disease in countries with limited resources. This study assess the occurrence of hemophilia in the Western region of Cameroon and clinical aspects with the aim of raising public awareness of the disease.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out over a period of 04 months in 5 departments of the Western region of Cameroon, in particular Mifi, Ndé, Bamboutos, Haut Nkam and Menoua. The individuals were selected in their houses on the basis of clinical arguments, i.e. bleeding from the gums, traumatic wounds, hematomas. The blood samples taken from the latter were analyzed in the hemostasis laboratory of the Regional Hospital of Bafoussam. The epidemiological characteristics of hemophiliacs identified and suspects hemophiliacs were analyzed. The results obtained were analysed using statistical software R version 4.1.1.&#x0D; Results: Out of 5995 people selected, 13 (0.22%) cases of hemophilia were identified, 09 confirmed cases and 04 new cases. The mean age of the patients was 14.85 years old (1.5-49). The disease was discovered mainly during circumcision in the months following birth (9/13, 69.23%), and by bleeding of the gums (9/13, 69.23%). Clinical signs were pain of the joints (46%), hematoma and swelling of the joints (38%). Platelets counts and prothrombin rate were normal in all. However, a prolonged Cephalin + Activator Time was found; it was corrected by supplying normal control plasma.&#x0D; Conclusion: Hemophilia is a pathology little known for the general public. For this, with the help of public authorithies, continuing education sessions must be set up to raise awareness among the population in order to limit the transmission of the disease and to eradicate this scourge which constitutes a real public health problem.

Integrating cervical cancer screening and prevention treatment with voluntary family planning in Mozambique (038)

<b>Objectives:</b> Mozambique has cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates of 50.2 and 38.7 per 100,000 women, respectively. These high rates are due in part to a lack of access to cervical cancer screening and few medical providers skilled in the treatment of women with preinvasive cervical disease. The objective of this study was to develop, implement and test models integrating cervical cancer screening and prevention treatment with voluntary family planning programs using strategies to optimize the uptake and health impact of both services. <b>Methods:</b> Women aged 30 to 49 in Maputo City and Gaza Province, Mozambique, were prospectively enrolled in the study. Women were offered cervical cancer screening and/or voluntary family planning services as appropriate. Women were screened for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA using the GeneXpert® (Cepheid Inc, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) platform. Participants were offered self-collection or provider collection of cervicovaginal samples. HPV-positive women underwent a pelvic examination by a nurse and visual assessment for treatment using visual inspection with acetic acid to determine eligibility for ablation. Prior to treatment, a photograph of the cervix was taken for quality assurance. Patients with lesions eligible for ablation underwent thermal ablation (87%) or cryotherapy (13%). If ineligible, women were referred to a gynecologist for evaluation and excisional treatment as appropriate. Local nurses and doctors were trained in cervical cancer screening and treatment of pre-invasive disease. Continuing education sessions were held weekly. Surveys were conducted to evaluate the integration of cervical cancer screening and family planning services, and these results will be reported separately. <b>Results:</b> From January 2020 to July 2021, 4,344 women were enrolled and screened with HPV testing. The median age of participants was 38 years. Among the participants, 45.7% of women were living with HIV (WLWH). The HPV positivity rate was 34.0% overall and 43.6% in WLWH. A total of 96% of the patients chose self-collection of HPV testing. Of the 1,477 HPV-positive women, 87.8% had been evaluated and treated. Treatments included ablation (<i>n</i>=1193, 80.8%), LEEP (<i>n</i>=84, 5.7%) or cold-knife-conization (<i>n</i>=4, 0.3%). Fifteen (1.0%) women were diagnosed with invasive cancer and navigated to gynecologic oncology treatment, whereas 12.2% were lost to follow-up. <b>Conclusions:</b> Preliminarily results indicate it is feasible to screen women for cervical cancer with primary HPV testing using self-collected samples in Mozambique. Almost 90% of screen-positive patients completed follow-up treatment. This study is ongoing, supporting a comprehensive approach to improve screening methods and uptake through integration with voluntary family planning, to test the feasibility of HPV testing and self-collection, and to improve provider education and skills through regular training.