Live Webinars Research Articles

How to plan and perform E-learning in family medicine vocational training lessons learned in the KWBW-verbundweiterbildungplus

As of the start of the COVID-19-pandemic, basis undergraduate, postgraduate as well as continuous medical education had often been switched to e-learning. This is a chance and a challenge at the same time. In this work, we describe the e-learning experiences of the competence center for postgraduate medical education in Baden-Wurttemberg. We aim to support broad implementation of e-learning by the exchange of educational as well as organizational approaches. In March 2020, we planned synchronic (live) webinars with asynchronic preparation and postprocessing (flipped classroom). We focused on elements to improve interaction. All the process was managed with respect to the program curriculum in a multicentered team. In 2020, n = 263 postgraduate trainees in family medicine (FM trainees) participated in n = 12 online single seminar days of the KWBW Verbundweiterbildungplus. Due to multiple participation, they induced n = 379 participations. N = 353 evaluations could be included (93,1 % response rate). 77 % (n = 182/236) assessed the use of the software Zoom® with satisfying or very satisfying, 75 % (n = 122/163) the use of the software Heiconf® with satisfying or very satisfying. 59 % (n = 208) wanted to continue with seminar days during workdays, whereas 26 % (n = 91) wished for trainings on Saturdays. A technical check was rated as very helpful. From the organizational point of view, an additional lecturer (= moderator) was necessary. Some lecturers needed extra support in advance of the e-learning. We provide didactic elements that can help to improve the interaction between participants which have to be planned ahead. We present a successful approach to face the educational and organizational challenges of e-learning. E-learning was broadly accepted which supports permanent implementation. However, social and collegial interaction is both, most challenging and most important for postgraduate training in family medicine. Therefore, approaches supporting the interaction in e-learning should be developed and implemented. © 2021, Deutscher Arzte-Verlag GmbH. All rights reserved.

Resilient Assessment During COVID‐19

Resilient Assessment During COVID‐19

Letter to the Editor: Distant surgical teaching during COVID‐19 ‐ A pilot study on final year medical students

Letter to the Editor: Distant surgical teaching during <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 ‐ A pilot study on final year medical students

Connecting with Families through Virtual Perinatal Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes in health care. The status quo has been upended. We have been challenged in many ways to maintain our ability to meet the needs of our clients while keeping them safe. The Center for Perinatal Education and Lactation at NYU Langone Hospitals, in one of the initial epicenters of the pandemic in New York City, had to abruptly transition the childbirth education program to a virtual format in March of 2020. The goal for this change was to continue to provide evidence-based support and guidance our to our expectant and new families through this crisis. This report focuses on the process and challenges of transitioning to and implementation of the virtual format in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. We discuss the rapidly evolving programmatic changes to our approach and reflect on the themes and changing landscape of our newly structured model. Questions and answers live discussion webinars "Ask the Educator" on various topics were a valuable tool in connecting with families and allaying anxiety and fear.

Wounds Week: 27–31 July

On 27 July, Journal of Wound Care and the University of Huddersfield streamed the first of 10 live webinars on their Wounds Week channel (www.woundsweek.com). All sessions are now available to watch on-demand. With 10 highly apposite topics, Wounds Week gives a chance for the wound care community to come together in these difficult times and engage in key education, free of charge. Each session had live question and answer sessions; participants asked questions of the experts, making them a key part of the event. The registration process takes just a minute. There's nothing to install or set up-simply register and fill out your details. Follow on twitter at #WoundsWeek.

Technology-Based Educational Approaches to Address Opioid Use Management by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

Opioid overdose remains the leading cause of accidental death, with 64,000 deaths attributable to opioid-related overdoses in 2016 and a 20% increase in mortality since 2015. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are now eligible to prescribe buprenorphine. The purpose of this project was to develop educational training materials regarding opioid use management; widely disseminate these materials; monitor reach and intervention efficacy in precipitating practice change; and to evaluate barriers and facilitators of buprenorphine prescribing. The authors developed a three-webinar series pertaining to opioid use management. A broad marketing and dissemination approach was utilized. Demographic data was collected when individuals registered to participate in the webinar series. Follow-up data was collected post-webinar and sought to assess practice change, and barriers to and facilitators of buprenorphine prescribing. Of the 670 individuals that viewed one or more of the live webinars, 218 (32.5%) completed a portion of one or both of the follow-up surveys (at 3- and 6-months post-webinar). Of the respondents, 39 (18%) had obtained the DATA 2000 (buprenorphine) waiver since viewing the webinar series, and 11 (5.1%) were in the process of obtaining the DATA 2000 waiver. Barriers to buprenorphine prescribing included regulatory factors, patient-specific factors, and provider-specific factors. Facilitators to buprenorphine prescribing included institutional support and mentorship, collaboration with professional organizations, increased community awareness, and patient outcomes. APRNs should be abreast of best practices in the management of opioid use disorders. Barriers to and facilitators of buprenorphine prescribing must be understood and addressed.

Supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disability during the first 100days of the COVID-19 outbreak in the USA.

BackgroundIt is unknown how the novel Coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2, the cause of the current acute respiratory illness COVID‐19 pandemic that has infected millions of people, affects people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). The aim of this study is to describe how individuals with IDD have been affected in the first 100 days of the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsShortly after the first COVID‐19 case was reported in the USA, our organisation, which provides continuous support for over 11 000 individuals with IDD, assembled an outbreak committee composed of senior leaders from across the health care organisation. The committee led the development and deployment of a comprehensive COVID‐19 prevention and suppression strategy, utilising current evidence‐based practice, while surveilling the global and local situation daily. We implemented enhanced infection control procedures across 2400 homes, which were communicated to our employees using multi‐faceted channels including an electronic resource library, mobile and web applications, paper postings in locations, live webinars and direct mail. Using custom‐built software applications enabling us to track patient, client and employee cases and exposures, we leveraged current public health recommendations to identify cases and to suppress transmission, which included the use of personal protective equipment. A COVID‐19 case was defined as a positive nucleic acid test for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA.ResultsIn the 100‐day period between 20 January 2020 and 30 April 2020, we provided continuous support for 11 540 individuals with IDD. Sixty‐four per cent of the individuals were in residential, community settings, and 36% were in intermediate care facilities. The average age of the cohort was 46 ± 12 years, and 60% were male. One hundred twenty‐two individuals with IDD were placed in quarantine for exhibiting symptoms and signs of acute infection such as fever or cough. Sixty‐six individuals tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2, and their average age was 50. The positive individuals were located in 30 different homes (1.3% of total) across 14 states. Fifteen homes have had single cases, and 15 have had more than one case. Fifteen COVID‐19‐positive individuals were hospitalised. As of 30 April, seven of the individuals hospitalised have been discharged back to home and are recovering. Five remain hospitalised, with three improving and two remaining in intensive care and on mechanical ventilation. There have been three deaths. We found that among COVID‐19‐positive individuals with IDD, a higher number of chronic medical conditions and male sex were characteristics associated with a greater likelihood of hospitalisation.ConclusionsIn the first 100 days of the COVID‐19 outbreak in the USA, we observed that people with IDD living in congregate care settings can benefit from a coordinated approach to infection control, case identification and cohorting, as evidenced by the low relative case rate reported. Male individuals with higher numbers of chronic medical conditions were more likely to be hospitalised, while most younger, less chronically ill individuals recovered spontaneously at home.

Knowledge and understanding among medical imaging professionals in India during the rapid rise of the covid-19 pandemic.

During the first week of March,2020 the surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases reached all over the globe with more than 100,000 cases. Healthcare national and international authorities have already initiated awareness and lockdown activities. A poor understanding of the disease among medical imaging professionals (MIPs) may result in rapid spread of infection. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and understanding of MIPs about COVID-19. A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among MIPs about COVID- 19 during the fourth week of March 2020. An online sample of MIPs was successfully recruited via the authors’ networks in India using data collection tool – write google forms. A self-developed online KAP questionnaire was completed by the participants. The knowledge and understanding questionnaire consisted questions regarding the clinical characteristics and transmission routes of COVID-19. Assessment on practices towards COVID-19 included questions on techniques while imaging against COVID-19 suspected patients. Of 700 participants, a total of 550 MIPs completed the survey (response rate: 78.57%); 56.7% were males, 85.4.1% were aged 17–26 years, and most were undergraduates (77.6%) and postgraduates (17.1%). Regarding COVID-19, most of the participants answered correctly (95.5%) on symptoms, (84.4%) time interval for visible symptoms, (98.0%) transmission and (44%) airborne transmission respectively. A significant proportion of MIPs (36.4%) had poor knowledge about wearing multiple masks as an effective measure against coronavirus infection. Most of the respondents (48.5%) incorrectly considered X-ray as the reliable method of diagnosis for suspected COVID-19 patients. 44.6% of the respondents lacked knowledge about the steps involved in hand washing technique which is one of the most important safety practice methods in medical imaging to prevent spread of infection. Factors such as age and occupation were associated with inadequate knowledge and poor perception of COVID-19. As the current global threat of COVID-19 continues to emerge, it is crucial and critical to improve the knowledge and understanding of MIPs. Educational videos and live webinars are urgently needed to reach MIPs and further detailed studies are the need of the hour.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s12553-020-00437-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Multistate programme to reduce catheter-associated infections in intensive care units with elevated infection rates

BackgroundPreventing central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) remains challenging in intensive care units (ICUs).ObjectiveThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for ICUs aimed...

Principles for conducting effective live webinars

Principles for conducting effective live webinars

Reach Versus Impact: Comparing Webinars and Online Short Courses for Educational Outcomes

Our multistate group of state horse specialists produced and evaluated impacts from six webinars and online short courses (webinar plus additional content) addressing current industry issues: pasture-associated laminitis, equine herpesvirus-1, disaster preparedness, sales fraud, rescues/rehoming, and manure management. We identified no differences in perceived knowledge gained from webinars or short courses; however, results suggest that participation in short courses versus live webinars may be more useful for making positive management decisions. Short course participants also reported greater potential for cost savings as a result of completing the education. On the basis of the study, we offer recommendations for developing effective online Extension education programs.

Dental Hygienists' and Dentists' Tobacco Cessation Continuing Education Preferences: Application of a Discrete Choice Method.

Despite ample opportunity, dental professionals frequently fall short of connecting tobacco-using patients with effective cessation support, often citing lack of training as a barrier. To inform development of training options, the aim of this study was to quantify the preferences of practicing dental hygienists and dentists in California for continuing dental education (CDE) offerings related to tobacco and patient tobacco cessation. Two statewide surveys of California dental hygienists and dentists were conducted. In addition to providing their own and their practice characteristics, in a discrete choice experiment, participants indicated their preferences between pairs of randomly generated hypothetical tobacco cessation CDE offerings that differed in topic, cost, delivery modality, and duration. Ultimately, 641 dental hygienists (20.5% of the total invited minus those with undeliverable emails, n=3,129) and 654 dentists (8.5% of the total invited minus those with undeliverable emails, n=7,669) responded to at least one of the discrete choice items, and their responses were analyzed. The results showed that each CDE attribute was independently associated with preference. Cost and topic were more strongly associated with preference than were delivery modality and duration. Lower cost, shorter duration courses were generally favored. Alternative tobacco products and patient communication were the most popular topics for participating dental hygienists and dentists, respectively. CDE preferences differed according to participant characteristics: live webinars were the least preferred modality for more experienced dental professionals, and shorter courses were not preferred by dentists in non-urban locations. These findings showed that these dental professionals considered multiple attributes in selecting CDE courses. To reach the broadest audience, CDE providers should offer low-cost options across a range of delivery modalities, such as full-day workshops in rural areas and online webinars for earlier career professionals.

1881. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use: Results From a National Antibiotic Stewardship Intervention of 402 United States (US) Hospitals

BackgroundThe AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use aims to improve antibiotic (abx) use in acute, long-term, and outpatient care settings by enhancing abx stewardship programs (ASP) and engaging frontline providers to incorporate stewardship into daily abx decision-making, with an emphasis on viewing appropriate prescribing as a patient safety issue. We report on the impact of implementation of the Acute Care Safety Program on abx use and Clostridioides difficile in a cohort of US hospitals.MethodsThe Acute Care Safety Program was implemented from December 2017 to November 2018. At least one unit from each hospital participated. The Safety Program trained local ASP leaders and assisted ASPs and frontline staff to: (a) address attitudes and culture that pose challenges to judicious abx use and (b) incorporate best practices for the management of common infections into daily practice using the Four Moments of Antibiotic Decision Making framework (Figure 1). Education occurred via 17 live Webinars and an online toolkit that included recorded Webinars, narrated presentations, and other tools to assist with the development and dissemination of syndrome-specific local guidelines (Table 1). Units submitted days of abx therapy (DOT) per 1,000 patient-days (PD), C. difficile LabID events per 10,000 PD, and 10 review forms per month documenting structured discussions between the ASP and frontline staff about patients on abx. Linear and generalized linear mixed-effects models were employed to calculate pre-post intervention changes in abx use and C. difficile LabID events, respectively.Results402 hospitals completed the Safety Program, including 28 (7%) academic medical centers (AMC), 289 (72%) community hospitals, and 85 (21%) critical access hospitals. 476 participating units consisted of 165 (35%) ICUs, 300 (63%) medical-surgical floors, and 11 (2%) other units. Both abx use and C. difficile LabID events decreased when comparing pre-post data (−41 DOT per 1,000 PD, [from 886.56, Figure 2], P = 0.001 and −1.2 LabID events per 10,000 PD [from 6.3], P = 0.027), respectively.ConclusionBy targeting both improving abx prescribing culture and knowledge of best practices, the AHRQ Safety Program led to reductions in abx use across a diverse cohort of hospitals. DisclosuresSara E. Cosgrove, MD, MS, Basilea: Consultant; Theravance: Consultant.

Reducing Variability in the Infant Sepsis Evaluation (REVISE): A National Quality Initiative

Substantial variability exists in the care of febrile, well-appearing infants. We aimed to assess the impact of a national quality initiative on appropriate hospitalization and length of stay (LOS) in this population. The initiative, entitled Reducing Variability in the Infant Sepsis Evaluation (REVISE), was designed to standardize care for well-appearing infants ages 7 to 60 days evaluated for fever without an obvious source. Twelve months of baseline and 12 months of implementation data were collected from emergency departments and inpatient units. Ill-appearing infants and those with comorbid conditions were excluded. Participating sites received change tools, run charts, a mobile application, live webinars, coaching, and a LISTSERV. Analyses were performed via statistical process control charts and interrupted time series regression. The 2 outcome measures were the percentage of hospitalized infants who were evaluated and hospitalized appropriately and the percentage of hospitalized infants who were discharged with an appropriate LOS. In total, 124 hospitals from 38 states provided data on 20 570 infants. The median site improvement in percentages of infants who were evaluated and hospitalized appropriately and in those with appropriate LOS was 5.3% (interquartile range = -2.5% to 13.7%) and 15.5% (interquartile range = 2.9 to 31.3), respectively. Special cause variation toward the target was identified for both measures. There was no change in delayed treatment or missed bacterial infections (slope difference 0.1; 95% confidence interval, -8.3 to 9.1). Reducing Variability in the Infant Sepsis Evaluation noted improvement in key aspects of febrile infant management. Similar projects may be used to improve care in other clinical conditions.

Abstract No. 481 Impact of the Introduction to Research Online Program (ITROP) on IR-bound trainees

Despite substantial increases in number and enthusiasm of trainees expressing interest in research in IR, there is a paucity of educational resources available to facilitate entry into the field. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Introduction to Research Online Program (ITROP) on trainee competence and confidence. An online program consisting of 10 webinars presented by prominent academic IR physicians was developed to address the basics of IR research, ranging from formulating a research hypothesis to publication. Society of Interventional Radiology–sponsored certificates were offered to those that attended at least 6 of the 10 webinars. Pre- and post-webinar surveys and quizzes, and overall pre- and post-program surveys were offered. Within-subject differences in pre- and post-webinar survey responses were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Of a total of 271 participants, 256 completed the pre-program survey. 92% were IR-bound trainees, including 67% medical students and 27% residents/fellows from 138 institutions. At the start, 96% considered research to be important and 41% had little to no confidence in conducting research. 68% attended at least 1 and 37% attended at least 6 live webinars. The average pre- and post-webinar survey response rate was 40%. Significant increases in perceived knowledge were seen following each webinar across all objectives (p<0.001). An average of 95% of post-webinar survey respondents agreed the presented material was useful to their future careers and research goals. The post-program survey response rate was 26%. Nearly all post-program survey respondents attended 6 or more lectures (97%) and claimed increased understanding of research principles (99%) and greater confidence in pursuing their research goals (94%). The online program ITROP is a valuable new resource in providing basic research training for IR-bound trainees. Subsequent advanced programs are needed to help IR-bound trainees achieve their research goals.

Feasibility and acceptability of Indigenous Counselling and Nicotine (ICAN) QUIT in Pregnancy multicomponent implementation intervention and study design for Australian Indigenous pregnant women: A pilot cluster randomised step-wedge trial

BackgroundMany health providers (HPs) lack knowledge, confidence, optimism and skills in addressing smoking with pregnant women. This study aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a) a co-designed multi-component intervention for HPs at Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) in culturally-targeted pregnancy-specific smoking cessation care and b) the study design. MethodsUsing a randomised step-wedge cluster design, the Indigenous Counselling And Nicotine (ICAN) QUIT in Pregnancy Trial was evaluated across six AMSs in three Australian states. HPs were provided educational resource packages including live interactive webinars, treatment manuals, patient resources, carbon monoxide (CO) meters, and oral Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Feasibility was assessed through recruitment and retention rates of both pregnant women (12-weeks) and HPs (end of study) as well as the potential to improve women's quit rates. Qualitative interviews with staff post-trial explored acceptability of the intervention and study, based on capability, opportunity and motivation from the Behaviour Change Wheel. ResultsPregnant women (n = 22; 47% (95% CI: 32%, 63%) eligible) and HPs (n = 50; 54% (95% CI: 44%, 64%) eligible) were recruited over 6 months with retention rates of 77% (95% CI: 57%, 90%) and 40% (95% CI: 28%, 54%) respectively. Self-reported 12-week 7-day point-prevalence abstinence was 13.6% (n = 3) and validated abstinent with CO readings ≤6 ppm. Staff interviewed regarding intervention implementation highlighted the importance of provision and use of resources, including training materials, patient resources, CO meters and oral NRT. Resources helped increase capability and opportunity, restructure the environment, and provided social comparison and modelling. Staff were motivated by greater engagement with pregnant women and seeing the women's reductions in CO readings. Having the intervention at the AMSs improved organisational capacity to engage with pregnant women. Staff reported changes to their routine practice that were potentially sustainable. Recommendations for improvement to the implementation of the intervention and research included reducing training length and the tasks related to conducting the study. ConclusionICAN QUIT in Pregnancy was a pilot study with the ability to enrol Indigenous women. It was feasible to implement and acceptable to most staff of the AMSs in three states, with modifications recommended. Smoking in pregnancy is a key challenge for Indigenous health. The intervention needs to be evaluated through a methodologically rigorous fully-powered study to determine the efficacy of outcomes for women. Trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12616001603404. Registered 21 November 2016 - retrospectively registered, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371778

Improving collaborative mental health care across Australia: development and evaluation of the Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) initiative

Introduction : The Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) was established in 2008 to improve consumer outcomes in the primary care sector by fostering a collaborative clinical approach to the provision of mental health care in Australia. MHPN is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. This presentation will describe the development of MHPN and present results of evaluations of MHPN’s two key programs. Short description of practice change implemented : The MHPN national platform has two key programs by which it promotes collaborative mental health care: network meetings and webinars. MHPN interdisciplinary networks comprise groups of practitioners who meet face-to-face on a regular and voluntary basis. While networks are self-directed in determining membership and content covered, MHPN provides strategic and planning advice, and manages meeting logistics, communications, and administration tasks. At 30 June 2016 there were 380 networks across Australia with a total of over 10,000 participants. During 2015-16 there were 1,171 network meetings and 14,835 network meeting attendances. MHPN professional development webinars feature case-based discussions by leading experts, modelling interdisciplinary practice and collaborative care. From December 2010 to 30 June 2016, MHPN produced 52 webinars. Overall, there have been more than 160,000 individual views of the live webinars or downloadable podcasts. Aim and theory of change : Collaborative practice is recognised as a necessary element for an integrated health delivery system. MHPN’s activities are based on the premise that if practitioners from different disciplines connect and communicate on a regular basis, clinical pathways will be more effective, referrals better informed and service-delivery improved. Targeted population and stakeholders: MHPN targets psychiatrists, general practitioners, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers, pediatricians, occupational therapists and other mental health practitioners. Timeline : MHPN was established in 2008 and continues to grow and evolve. Highlights : During 2015-16, evaluations of MHPN’s two key programs were undertaken: Study 1 surveyed network meeting attendees and assessed change across seven areas relating to increased awareness of and interaction with professionals from other disciplines. More than 75% respondents had made each practice change, with those who attended more meetings significantly more likely to have made changes. Study 2 surveyed webinar attendees. Three months post-webinar, 80% respondents had made practice changes, including increased confidence in providing mental health care, increased discussions about other disciplines and improved targeting of referrals. Comments on sustainability : MHPN continues to monitor its structure, policy and practice in order to maintain sustainability of the initiative. Comments on transferability : The MHPN initiative is potentially transferable to other settings and countries. Discussion and Conclusions : The two studies demonstrate that MHPN interdisciplinary network meetings and professional development webinars have impacted positively on health professionals’ attitudes and practices towards a more collaborative approach to mental health care, highlighting the success of the MHPN initiative. Evaluation findings will be published in the Journal of Integrated Care in 2018. Lessons learned : The high attendance at both network meetings and live webinars underscores the strong interest and desire amongst Australia’s mental health workforce for interdisciplinary networking and professional development opportunities.

Creating a learning organization to help meet the needs of multihospital health systems.

The considerations that leaders of multihospital health systems must take into account in developing and implementing initiatives to build and maintain an exceptional pharmacy workforce are described. Significant changes that require constant individual and organizational learning are occurring throughout healthcare and within the profession of pharmacy. These considerations include understanding why it is important to have a succession plan and determining what types of education and training are important to support that plan. Other considerations include strategies for leveraging learners, dealing with a large geographic footprint, adjusting training opportunities to accommodate the ever-evolving demands on pharmacy staffs in terms of skill mix, and determining ways to either budget for or internally develop content for staff development. All of these methods are critically important to ensuring an optimized workforce. Especially for large health systems operating multiple sites across large distances, the use of technology-enabled solutions to provide effective delivery of programming to multiple sites is critical. Commonly used tools include live webinars, live "telepresence" programs, prerecorded programming that is available through an on-demand repository, and computer-based training modules. A learning management system is helpful to assign and document completion of educational requirements, especially those related to regulatory requirements (e.g., controlled substances management, sterile and nonsterile compounding, competency assessment). Creating and sustaining an environment where all pharmacy caregivers feel invested in and connected to ongoing learning is a powerful motivator for performance, engagement, and retention.

Opportunities for training for nutritional professionals in nutritional genomics: What is out there?

To identify and profile training courses available to dietitians and nutritionists in the area of nutritional genomics. Genetic technology is progressing quickly, leading to increased public interest and requests from the public for personalised nutrition advice based on genetic background. Tertiary courses often lack specific curriculum in nutritional genomics, preventing graduates from discussing confidently with their clients the relationships between genetics, nutrition and health. This has increased the demand for professional development in this field. The search strategy was intended to replicate real-life practice. Google and snowball searches were conducted using terms related to education and nutritional genomics. Results included online or face-to-face courses in any country providing content on nutritional genomics. One-off courses and those courses no longer accessible were excluded. A descriptive analysis of characteristics of courses was undertaken, reporting on mode of delivery, cost, duration, content, qualification awarded, target audience and affiliations. In total, 37 courses varying in duration, content and cost were identified: 4 postgraduate university degrees, 5 university course units, 4 recurring face-to-face workshops, 15 online short courses, 8 pre-recorded presentations and 1 service offering regular live webinars. Affiliations with food and pharmaceutical industry (e.g. genetic testing companies), professional organisations and research/education institutes were observed. Training courses identified were predominantly delivered online, enabling nutrition professionals worldwide to upskill in nutritional genomics and personalised nutrition. Additional courses exist. Those seeking training should scrutinise and compare cost, duration, mode, content and affiliations of course providers to ensure learning needs are met.

Developing an Asynchronous Online Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program

Asynchronous online extension classes, in which content is made available on demand, can reach a larger audience, offer more scheduling flexibility, and reduce the strain on limited time and financial resources for extension faculty and staff. In comparison with traditional extension programming (in-person presentations) or online synchronous programming (live webinars), asynchronous programs can require significant time and resources during the initial development stages, including advanced planning and dedicated contributors as well as ongoing information technology (IT) infrastructure and maintenance. The objective of this article is to summarize the development process and inputs needed to successfully develop an online asynchronous extension program based on the authors’ experience developing the Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program (TMNP). The TMNP is a certificate program for nursery growers in Tennessee designed to improve growers’ long-term environmental, economic, and community sustainability. Developing the online TMNP required three key positions: project coordinator, e-learning specialist, and content developer which spent 473, 401, and 847 hours, respectively, during the development process. Detailed information on development time, requirements, and suggestions for other institutions wishing to develop similar programs is offered.