Skills Of Healthcare Professionals Research Articles

Do You See What I See? The Role of Visual Arts in Health Care Education.

The universality of visual arts can be used to facilitate inventive and interdisciplinary approaches to open the lines of communication between learners, educators, and health care providers to improve patient outcomes. Arts-based training programs have been implemented successfully in higher education as part of a growing awareness of the need to develop interpersonal skills of health care professionals to be able to deliver respectful and compassionate patient care. Visual thinking strategies (VTS) is a student-centered methodology using facilitated art-based discussions to create inclusive discussions. VTS-based programs may be successfully developed for continuing multidisciplinary education of health care professionals with the goals of improving communication and team building. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2020;51(8):367-370.].

Massive open online courses for continuing professional development of GPs

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for the maintenance and improvement of the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. GP registrars are required to evidence CPD in their ePortfolio and likewise, GPs are mandated to accrue and evidence a minimum of 50 hours CPD for their annual appraisal. CPD can be delivered in many ways, with an increasing movement towards online learning. Technology-enhanced learning (TEL) encompasses online learning and is ever changing. This article will discuss a type of TEL known as massive open online courses (MOOCs) and the role of MOOCs in delivering CPD.

Research nurses as practice facilitators to disseminate an asthma shared decision making intervention

BackgroundPractice facilitation is a method of introducing and sustaining organizational change. It involves the use of skilled healthcare professionals called practice facilitators (PFs) to help address the challenges associated with implementing evidence-based guidelines and complex interventions into practice. PFs provide a framework for translating research into practice by building relationships, improving communication, fostering change, and sharing resources. Nurses are well positioned to serve as PFs for the implementation of complex interventions, however, there is little evidence currently available to describe nurses in this role. Additionally, the best strategies to implement complex interventions into practices are still not fully understood. Combining practice facilitation with the train-the-trainer model has the potential to spread knowledge and skills. Shared decision making (SDM), which involves patients and providers jointly engaging in decisions around treatment options, has been shown to improve outcomes for patients with asthma. The goal of this manuscript is to describe and evaluate the practice facilitation process from the ADAPT-NC Study which successfully utilized research nurses to implement a complex asthma SDM toolkit intervention into primary care practices.MethodsAs part of a larger study, 10 primary care practices were recruited for a facilitator-led dissemination intervention involving a 12-week rollout of an asthma SDM toolkit (trial registration: 1.28.2014, #NCT02047929). An experienced lead PF trained research nurses as PFs from each of the 4 participating practice-based research networks (PBRNs) in a train-the-trainer model utilizing a one-day training event and subsequent remote meetings. Evaluation of PF engagement was measured through process improvement surveys.ResultsOverall, the asthma SDM intervention was successfully implemented within the 4 PBRNs. All 10 facilitator-led practices remained engaged with their PFs, with 8 out of the 10 practices able to incorporate and sustain SDM visits or clinics. Responses from the surveys for process improvement yielded improved PF communication and team dynamics over time.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated effective use of research nurses as practice facilitators during the dissemination of an asthma SDM intervention into primary care practices, adding to the knowledge of best practices by describing a model of large-scale implementation of a complex intervention through practice facilitation with nurses.Trial registration“Comparing Traditional and Participatory Dissemination of a Shared Decision Making Intervention” was retrospectively registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ on January 28th, 2014 (NCT02047929).

Does a Train-the-Trainer Approach for Enhancing Healthcare Professionals' Skills in Patient Education during Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation Improve Patient Outcomes?

This study is aimed at identifying the impact of a team-based train-the-trainer program (TTT-P) to enhance healthcare professional (HCP) skills in patient education during medical rehabilitation. Focusing on patient-reported outcomes, a prospective, sequential two-cohort study was conducted in the fields of psychosomatic and oncological rehabilitation. Two hundred fifteen patients were evaluated before (Cohort 1) and 196 post implementation of TTT-P (Cohort 2). Patients of both cohorts completed validated questionnaires on self-management (heiQ®), general self-efficacy (GSE scale), and quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) at the beginning, at the end, and at the 6-month follow-up to analyze short- and intermediate-term effects. Analyses were conducted separately for the psychosomatic and oncological setting. Results showed that TTT-P had no impact on patient outcomes in both rehabilitation settings. Patients did report positive outcomes as a result of the whole inpatient rehabilitation programs, though effects at follow-up were mostly small to medium size. Concerning self-management competencies, cancer patients gained less benefit during rehabilitation than psychosomatic patients. In conclusion, TTT-P did not result in measurable improvements at the patient level, likely because of the limited nature of the intervention. However, these populations of rehabilitants took benefit from participating in a multimodal rehabilitation program, of which patient education is one part.

Access to CKD Care in Rural Communities of India: a qualitative study exploring the barriers and potential facilitators

BackgroundDespite the high and rising burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in South Asia, factors that influence access to CKD care at the community level have not been studied previously, especially in the rural areas. We conducted a mixed methods study and interviewed key stakeholders to explore the views and experiences of key stakeholders, and identify barriers and potential facilitators that influence access to CKD care at the primary care level in rural India.MethodsA total of 21 stakeholders participated in the study. We conducted 15 in-depth interviews on a purposive sample of stakeholders (CKD patients, healthcare providers and health planners) and one focus group discussion with 6 community health workers. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We employed the Lévesque’s framework for access to care to base interview guides and structure the initial codes. By inductive and deductive approaches, thematic analysis was undertaken using QSR NVivo version 11.ResultsThe major patient-level barriers to CKD care as reported by the most patients and healthcare providers was poor knowledge and awareness of CKD. Health system-level barriers included shortages of skilled healthcare professionals and medicines, fragmented referrals pathways to the specialists at the hospitals with inadequate follow up care. Many patients and healthcare providers, when asked about areas for improving access to CKD care, reported educational initiatives to increase awareness of CKD among healthcare providers and patients, provision of CKD related supplies, and a systems-level approach to care coordination including task shifting by engaging community health workers in CKD care, as potential facilitators.ConclusionsWe identified several barriers to access CKD care at the primary care level in rural India that need urgent attention. Targeted CKD screening programs and CKD specific educational initiatives may improve awareness of CKD. Additionally, primary care infrastructure needs to be strengthened for CKD care, ensuring trained staff, availability of essential diagnostics and medications, and creating efficient referral pathways for quality CKD care.

Teaching and Learning the Skill of Intubation Using Telehealth Glasses

BackgroundEndotracheal intubation using direct laryngoscopy is a fundamental skill for health care professionals who are tasked with the job of securing a patient's airway. Teaching this skill is often challenging because of the inability of a faculty member to share the same vantage point as the learner. The aim of this study was to determine feasibility and acceptability of the use of telehealth glasses to guide teaching the skill of endotracheal intubation. MethodThis study used a qualitative descriptive design through transcript analysis of open-ended survey questions completed by 14 nurse practitioner students in the Southeastern United States. ResultsThree categories emerged from the students’ responses regarding use of the telehealth glasses: advantages, disadvantages, and recommendations. ConclusionsAlthough the findings were mixed, the researchers learned powerful lessons that could be helpful to educational researchers who would like to use a form of glasses.

Drug Therapy Optimization and Impact of Counseling on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Antenatal Care among Pregnant Women

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is a pregnancy care. Access to these services enables skilled health care professionals to identify and treat potential risks to expecting woman and unborn baby to ensure safe delivery. Deprived of proper care and inappropriate drug use during pregnancy, prenatal complications may rise. Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of antenatal care and drug related problems among study population. Method: A hospital based prospective study was conducted in OBG department of BLDEA's hospital Vijaypur, Karnataka. A total of 94 subjects were studied and reviewed for drug therapy related problems and were assessed for their knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of antenatal care using validated questioner for two successive follow-ups. Eclectic method of counseling was used to address gaps in KAP. All extracted data was documented and analyzed by paired t/ Wilcoxon signed rank test to report the impact of counseling. Result: Knowledge, attitude and practice scores were increased in the first and second follow-up, significance (p<0.001) of counseling was observed. There were 250 drugs from 19 different categories prescribed by the health care professional. Among that 14 pharmaceutical care issues detected by pharmacist were evaluated for appropriate intervention with health care professional and by providing proper counselling to study population. Conclusion: The present study reveals that there is a positive significance of the Pharmacist led drug therapy optimization and impact of counseling on knowledge, attitude and practice of antenatal care among pregnant women.

Exploration of volunteers as health connectors within a multicomponent primary care-based program supporting self-management of diabetes and hypertension.

Volunteers support health and social care worldwide, yet there is little research on integrating these unpaid community members into primary care. 'Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience, Strengthening Quality through Health Connectors for Diabetes Management' (Health TAPESTRY-HC-DM) integrates volunteer 'health connectors' into a community- and primary care-based program supporting client self-management in Hamilton, Canada. Volunteers supported clients through goal setting, motivation, education and connections to community resources and primary care. This study aimed to create and apply a volunteer program evaluation framework to explore: (a) volunteer training effectiveness (learning online content, in-person training, self-efficacy in role tasks, training overall); (b) feasibility of program implementation (process measures, reflections on client encounters, understanding of volunteer roles/responsibilities, client perspectives on volunteer program); and (c) effects of volunteering on volunteers (health outcomes, self-efficacy, value of volunteering). A concurrent triangulation, mixed-methods design was used. Data were collected in 2016, sources included: volunteer online training quizzes, focus groups, self-efficacy survey, Veterans RAND 12-Item (VR-12) survey, in-person training feedback forms and narratives of client visits; client interviews; and quantitative implementation data. Quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, paired samples t tests, and effect size (Cohen's d). Qualitative data used descriptive thematic analysis. Nineteen volunteers and 12 clients participated in this evaluation. Findings demonstrate the volunteer program evaluation framework in action. Online training increased knowledge. In-person training received largely positive evaluations. Self-efficacy was high post-training and higher after volunteering. VR-12 sub-scale means increased descriptively. Volunteers understood themselves as healthcare system connectors, feeling fulfilled with their contributions and learning new skills. They identified barriers including not having the resources and skills of healthcare professionals. Clients found volunteers were a major program strength, appreciating their company and regular goals follow-up. Using a volunteer program evaluation framework generated rich and comprehensive data demonstrating the feasibility of bringing volunteers into primary care.

Improving healthcare performance by focusing on individual productivity of healthcare provider and system thinking: a strategy proposal

Bhutan’s health system, despite its commendable achievements in past few decades, continues to face shortage of skilled healthcare professionals and quality issues in service delivery. While recruiting more professionals, advocating for population health, better patient experience and safety, healthcare provider wellness has been overlooked. As the recent pay revision receives warm welcome from the health fraternity, a sense of greater professionalism and responsibility will be expected. Yet, aforementioned challenges still remain. Life and aspirations of professionals, brought up and trained in society that provides free healthcare and education, will become more convoluted. Mentorship program for healthcare providers at the beginning of their career and institutionalizing enabling environment for their personal and professional development need to be looked into. Decisions to pursue specialization should be a result of genuine interest and not a presumed exit hallway from professional frustrations, nor a shortcut to hefty pay. A promising and congruous career pathway can improve job satisfaction among health care providers. Endeavors to improve healthcare service delivery are present at every level but lack of coordination hampers favorable outcome. Variation in healthcare is major cause of adverse healthcare outcome and it is also known that every system is perfectly designed to achieve the results it gets. After conceptualizing few desired outcomes, a strategy framework that leads to health system improvement through improved individual productivity and systemic reforms enhancing intra- and inter sectoral coordination, while using evidence-based practice and existing resources, is proposed.

An Evaluation of Midwifery Education System in Armenia

Abstract Background Competencies, knowledge and skills of health care professionals largely depend upon their education. Well-educated and competent midwives can improve women’s and infants’ health related outcomes. The current study evaluated the compliance of the current midwifery education system in Armenia with the global International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) standards. Methods The research team used a qualitative cross-sectional study design with deductive content analysis. Through purposeful sampling we recruited five nursing colleges providing midwifery education in Armenia; two in the capital city and three in different regions. The study population included midwifery students, faculty and administrative representatives of the selected colleges (n = 56). During fall 2018, we conducted observations of midwifery education textbooks and equipment and in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with participants. Results Despite widely used interactive teaching methodology and more than 60% of teaching time allocated for practical learning, students graduated from the program without obtaining essential competencies. Lack of teaching resources, especially in the regional colleges, and lack of quality clinical learning opportunities in hospitals were barriers for students to develop essential practical skills. Conclusions The study recommends the governmental bodies to ensure provision of equity-based distribution of finances and tangible resources between the capital city and regional nursing colleges. The practical component of midwifery education programs need substantial enhancement. Key messages The lack of teaching resources and access to hospital sites were barriers to obtaining essential competencies for midwifery students. In order to develop a sufficient professional skillset, midwifery education programs should arrange comprehensive and structured practical experience for students.

Palliative care training addressed to hospital healthcare professionals by palliative care specialists: a mixed-method evaluation

BackgroundDespite the great advances in the concept of palliative care (PC) and its benefits, its application seems to be delayed, leaving unfulfilled the many needs of patients and family members. One way to overcome this difficulty could be to develop a new training programme by palliative care specialists to improve PC primary skills in healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the training’s impact on trainees within a hospital setting using Kirkpatrick’s and Moore’s models.MethodsWe adopted a mixed-method evaluation with concurrent triangulation. The evaluation followed the first three steps of Kirkpatrick’s and Moore’s models and included a pre- and post-training evaluation through self-administered questionnaires and focus groups. We used the McNemar statistical test.ResultsThe results highlighted the significant amount of knowledge acquired by the hospital professionals after training, in terms of increasing their knowledge of palliative care and in terms of the change in meaning that they attributed to phenomena related to chronicity and incurability, which they encounter daily in their professional practice. In both quantitative and qualitative research, the results, in synthesis, highlight:(i) the development of a new concept of palliative care, centred on the response to the holistic needs of people;(ii) that palliative care can also be extended to non-oncological patients in advanced illness stages (our training was directed to Geriatrics and Nephrology/Dialysis professionals);(iii) the empowerment and the increase in self-esteem that healthcare professionals gained, from learning about the logistical and structural organization of palliative care, to activate and implement PC;(iv) the need to share personal aspects of their professional life (this result emerges only in qualitative research);(v) the appreciation of cooperation and the joining of multiple competences towards a synergistic approach and enhanced outcomes.ConclusionIt is necessary to further develop rigorous research on training evaluation, at the most complex orders of the Kirkpatrick and Moore models, to measure primary PC skills in health care professionals. This will develop the effectiveness of the integration of I- and II-level palliative care competencies in hospitals and improve outcomes of patients’ and families’ quality of life.

Evaluating the Prosthodontic Status of People Visiting a Dental Clinic in New Delhi, India

BACKGROUND: Oral diseases place a huge economic and social burden on the population in terms of pain, suffering and lost productivity, as well as expenditure on treatment and prevention. The elderly people are worst affected by tooth loss as edentulism further leads to deterioration of their existing frail general health.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHOD: The present study is an attempt to study the prosthodontic status of people attending a private clinic in Delhi from April to December 2018. Data was collected with the help of WHO Oral Health Assessment Form (2004) and survey was conducted as per guidelines of American Dental Association for Type III examination. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.0.&#x0D; RESULTS: Out of 204 study subjects, 30.4% were completely dentulous, 7.4% were completely edentulous and rest were partially edentulous for the maxillary arch. While 34.8% were completely dentulous, 14.7% were completely edentulous and 50.5% were partially edentulous for the mandibular arch. Prosthodontic status for both the maxillary and mandibular arch was very poor with 79.4% and 85.3% individuals being devoid of any kind of prosthesis in the maxillary and mandibular arch respectively.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: The population of Delhi has a poor prosthodontics status. High cost of prosthetic treatment, lack of availability of skilled healthcare professionals, poor infrastructure and the general attitude of the population towards replacement of missing teeth are the major hindrances in the way of healthcare delivery system in our country. This has lead to the poor prosthodontic status in general population.

The Effect of A Structured Training Program on Intensive Care Nurses Performance

Background: An intensive care unit is that area of a hospital where patients’ serious illnesses or injuries receive special medical and nursing care. ICU nurses are highly knowledgeable and skilled health care professionals that work in an ICU in association with other members of the hospital team to provide optimum patient care. The care of the mechanically ventilated patient is an essential component of a nurse's clinical practice in the intensive care units (ICUs), therefore it seems natural to devote a great deal of work in preparing and training staff before allowing them to work with patients. Aim: to evaluate the effect of a structured training program on intensive care nurses' performance. Design: A quasi-experimental pre and posttest research design was used. Setting : Two teaching hospitals, Al-Shabaab and Al- Khartoum in Khartoum, Sudan. Sample: Purposive sample of intensive care nurses’ working in the two hospitals, (50, 30nurses) from Al- Khartoum, and-Shabaab hospitals. Tools: Two tools were used ; the first tool questionnaire developed by researchers and checklist, the second tool : McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale (MMSS) was used for data collection. The study result ; there is a positive effect of educational program on enhancing nurses' knowledge, about mechanical ventilation in general, and there were a highly statistically significant difference between nurses' knowledge and their performance at pre and post intervention program, However there was no correlation between nurses' socio-demographic variables and their knowledge of pre and post intervention program. Conclusion and Recommendations ; the education program had a positive effect on the nurses' attitudes toward mechanically ventilated patient. ; the educational programs for all nursing members should be applied as continuing education, and further studies should be carried out with bigger sample and longer time. Keywords: China insurance industry, Foreign fund, Challenge DOI : 10.7176/JHMN/60-07 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

Simulation based learning methodology in pharmacology: knowledge and perception among second year medical under-graduate students

Background: Simulation-based learning (SBL) enhances problem-solving, improves skills in health care professionals. Authors assessed its use in teaching and learning pharmacology among medical undergraduates exposed to METIman, human patient simulator.Methods: Medical undergraduate students exposed to SBL for over a year (8 clinical pharmacology related scenarios) were asked to fill a validated questionnaire at the end of the academic year.Results: Of 145 students who underwent SBL, the data of 84 were analysed. The overall satisfaction score with SBL was highly significant in 79 (94%) with a score of 26-35. Participants opined that it increases the depth of experience (91.6%), provides a no risk learning and immediate feedback opportunity (93.4%), a good opportunity to come across rare scenarios (86.2%), enhances decision making, communication, teamwork and skill development (92%); opportunity of repeated learning and enhanced patient safety at hospitals (89.28%), reduces the dependency on patients (72.8%), good opportunity for crisis training (88.0%) were other factors favouring the use of SBL. Preference for an increase in the number of classes allotted to simulation (27.4%) and reducing the duration of class (9.6%) were the major suggestions. It is an excellent method to teach and make it interesting to learn pharmacology (80.0%)Total score varied between 23-35 with a mean±SD of 35±30.64. None had a score of 7-15.Conclusions: SBL is an effective teaching and learning methodology with adequate participant satisfaction. It can be of immense utility as a learning tool with better outcome in learning, retention and recall.

Extemporaneous Compounding: Cautions, Controversies and Convenience

Pharmacists are only knowledgeable and skilled healthcare professionals dedicated to compounding and preparing medications to meet the unique needs of patients. The safe and effective extemporaneous compounding of prescription products for patients require in special care is fundamental to the pharmacy profession. But there are much to do for secundum artem. It is not at all economical for a pharmaceutical company to marketize a product in 10 different probable doses or in 5 different dosage forms to meet the needs of the entire range of individuals receiving therapy. Although development is a continuous process, companies are customizing features to meet the majority of patient needs, but the very nature of the process cannot meet all patient needs. The risk-benefit ratio of using traditionally compounded medicines is favorable for patients who require specialized medications that are not commercially available, as they would otherwise not have access to suitable treatment. However, if an FDA-approved drug is commercially available, the use of an unapproved compounded drug confers additional risk with no commensurate benefit. Published reports of independent testing by the FDA, state agencies, and others consistently show that compounded drugs fail to meet specifications at a considerably higher rate than FDA-approved drugs. Compounded sterile preparations pose the additional risk of microbial contamination to patients. In the last 11 years, three separate meningitis outbreaks have been traced to purportedly ‘sterile’ steroid injections contaminated with fungus or bacteria, which were made by compounding pharmacies. The 2012 outbreak has resulted in intense scrutiny of pharmacy compounding practices and increased recognition of the need to ensure that compounding is limited to appropriate circumstances. Purpose of The Study: The article aims to physico-chemical and economic considerations before compounding; factors and quality control issues; compounding support, training, chemical supplies, types of compounding (specially in hospital and ambulatory care compounding). It should aid to practice the extemporaneous preparation of basic and advanced formulations including pharmacopoeial and non-pharmacopoeial formulations encountered in pharmacy practice, together with requisite documentation, labeling, packaging and counseling requirements. Along with this, they have to study the analysis of formulations and their components and relate these to the clinical performance of medicines. This will help them to investigate, evaluate and report the physical characteristics of formulations including release kinetics and relate these to quality control and preformulation requirements; relate the application of quality control, quality assurance and the principles of good manufacturing practice to regulation of medicine production in home and abroad. Outline: Background; Introduction; Compounding Factors; Types of Compounding; Identifying Errors and Cause

Effect of resiliency and age on musculoskeletal injuries and lost workdays in emergency medical service personnel

Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel are highly skilled health care professionals who often provide lifesaving clinical care to patients. Paradoxically, they may be repeatedly exposed to a unique set of occupational hazards that could endanger their own health. This cross-sectional study sought to examine the relation between resiliency and musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) and between resiliency and lost workdays due to MSIs, and explore whether age modifies these associations. Multivariable Poisson main effects regression models showed that resiliency had a protective effect against MSIs, but not lost workdays. In the unadjusted regression model to evaluate the relation between resiliency and age, results suggested that no differences in distributions existed between younger and older EMS personnel and resiliency. However, given the same unit increase in resiliency, findings from multivariable Poisson interaction regression models indicated that older workers had a higher prevalence of MSIs and lost workdays than younger workers. Results from main effects models may reflect diverging routes on a pathophysiological pathway, in which resiliency acts as a prognostic factor for MSIs but not lost workdays. Findings might also indicate the association between resiliency, and MSIs and lost workdays varies by age. Relevance to industryThe largest growth of labor in the US is expected to occur in the oldest segments of the population. While older workers may offer more experience and show similar resiliency to younger workers, they might be more vulnerable to individual risk factors and occupational exposures. If management wants to retain older workers as assets, they should design the work environment to match the capabilities of all workers.

Improving Would Healing Ability by Training: Experiences of China

In China, chronic wounds are an important issue. However, wound care knowledge and the skill of health care professionals varies among hospitals and cities. A training program in wound care in China was completed in 2015 and achieved great success. To facilitate expertise in wound healing in China, a sequential training project supported by the Wound Healing Union and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association was initiated. The aim of the training program was mainly to improve experience and skills in wound healing. Until December 2016, a total of 301 medical staffs, including 134 physicians and 167 nurses, have been trained. Most of the doctors (92 of 134) and nurses (142 of 167) were from Grade IIIA/B hospitals, and there were no doctors and nurses from community hospitals. Most participants were satisfied about the training program, and more nurses were satisfied (79%) than doctors (60%). All trainees have completed 4½ months of training and passed a final examination.

Bolstering diagnostic reasoning skills with adaptive learning

Purpose: Adaptive learning emerges when precise assessment informs delivery of educational materials. This study will demonstrate how data from Human Dx, a case-based e-learning platform, can characterize an individual’s diagnostic reasoning skills, and deliver tailored content to improve accuracy.Methods: Pearson Chi-square analysis was used to assess variability in accuracy across three groups of participants (attendings, residents, and medical students) and three categories of cases (core medical, surgical, and other). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between solve duration and accuracy. Mean accuracy and duration were calculated for 370 individuals. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess variability for an individual solver across the three categories.Results: There were significant differences in accuracy across the three groups and the three categories (p < 0.001). Individual solvers have significant variance in accuracy across the three categories. Shorter solve duration predicted higher accuracy. Patterns of performance were identified; four profiles are highlighted to demonstrate potential adaptive learning interventions.Conclusions: Human Dx can assess diagnostic reasoning skills. When weaknesses are identified, adaptive learning strategies can push content to promote skill development. This has implications for customizing curricular elements to improve the diagnostic skills of healthcare professionals.

Effect of Web-based diabetes training program on diabetes-related knowledge, attitudes, and skills of health professionals: A randomized controlled trial.

To determine the effect of a Web-Based Diabetes Training Program (WB-DTP) on the diabetes-related knowledge, attitudes, and skills of health professionals. This was an experimental pretest-post-test with a 1 month follow-up study design that included a control group. The results of the power analysis suggested that 50 individuals with diabetes should be in both the intervention and the control groups. The WB-DTP was developed in accordance with the Effective Teaching Instruction Model.. Measures included the information form, Achievement Test (AT), Diabetes Attitudes Scale (DAS), and skill observation forms. The Wilcoxon's Signed Rank test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Friedman test were used to analyze group differences on these measures. There was a significant difference between the AT post-test and the follow-up test scores of the intervention and control groups. No significant difference was present for the DAS post-test and follow-up scores between the intervention and control groups. A significant difference emerged on the Insulin Injection Skill Observation Form score between the intervention and control groups. In addition, there was a significant difference in the measurement level of blood glucose by the Glucometer Skill Observation Form between the intervention and control groups. As a result, it was determined that the WB-DTP is effective in increasing the diabetes-related knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. However, the program was not adequate at increasing the diabetes-related attitudes of health professionals.

The Improving Global Health fellowship: a qualitative analysis of innovative leadership development for NHS healthcare professionals

BackgroundThe importance of leadership development in the early stages of careers in the NHS has been highlighted in recent years and many programmes have been implemented which seek to develop leadership skills in healthcare professionals. The Improving Global Health (IGH) Fellowship scheme is one such programme, it provides a unique leadership development opportunity through an overseas placement with a focus on quality improvement work. This evaluation examines the impact of completing an IGH Fellowship on the career and leadership development of participants, who are referred to as Fellows.MethodsFellows who had returned from overseas placement between August 2008 and February 2015 were invited to complete an anonymised online questionnaire, which collected information on: demographic details, motivations for applying to the programme, leadership development and the impact of the IGH Fellowship on their career. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted to further explore the impact of the programme on Fellows’ leadership development and career progression. Interview transcripts were manually coded and underwent thematic content analysis.ResultsThe questionnaire had a 67% (74/111) response rate. The number of fellows who self-identified as a leader more than doubled on completion of the IGH Fellowship (24/74 pre-fellowship versus 58/74 post-fellowship). 74% (55/74) reported that the IGH Fellowship had an impact upon their career, 35 of which reported that the impact was “substantial”. The themes that emerged from the interviews revealed a personal development cycle that consolidated the fellows’ interests and values whilst enhancing their self-efficacy and subsequently impacted positively upon their career choices. Three interviewees expressed frustration at the lack of opportunity to utilise their new skills on returning to the United Kingdom (UK).ConclusionsThe IGH Fellowship successfully empowered healthcare professionals to self-identify as leaders. Of the 45/74 respondents who commented on the impact of the IGH Fellowship on their career, 41/45 comments were positive. The fellows described a process of experiential learning, reflection and evolving cultural intelligence, which consolidated their interests and values. The resultant increase in self-efficacy empowered these returned fellows in their choice of career.