scholarly journals Health Care Providers’ Profiles and Evaluations of a Statewide Online Education Program for Dissemination of Clinical Evidence on HIV, Hepatitis C Virus, and Sexually Transmitted Disease: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

Author(s):  
Dongwen Wang ◽  
Meredith Abrams

BACKGROUND Timely and effective dissemination of the latest clinical evidence to health care providers is essential for translating biomedical research into routine patient care. Online platforms offer unique opportunities for dissemination of medical knowledge. OBJECTIVE In this study, we report the profiles of health care providers participating in the New York State HIV-HCV-STD Clinical Education Initiative online program and their evaluations of the online continuing professional development courses. METHODS We compiled professional and personal background information of the clinicians who completed at least one online course. We collected their self-reported program evaluation data with regard to the course content, format, knowledge increase, and impact on clinical practice. RESULTS We recorded a total of 4363 completions of 88 online courses by 1976 unique clinicians during a 12-month study period. The clinicians’ background was diverse in terms of demographics, education levels, professional disciplines, practice years, employment settings, caseloads, and clinical services. The evaluation of online courses was very positive (usefulness/relevance, 91.08%; easy comprehension, 89.09%; knowledgeable trainer, 92.00%; appropriate format, 84.35%; knowledge increase, 48.52%; intention to use knowledge, 85.26%; and plan to change practice, 21.98%). Comparison with the reference data indicated that the online program successfully reached out to the primary care communities. Both the younger generation and the senior health care providers were attracted to the online program. High-quality multimedia resources, flexibility of access, ease of use, and provision of continuing professional development credits contributed to the initial success of this online clinical education program. CONCLUSIONS We have successfully characterized a diverse group of clinicians participating in a statewide online continuing professional development program. The evaluation has shown effective use of online resources to disseminate clinical evidence on HIV, hepatitis C virus, and sexually transmitted disease to primary care clinicians.

Author(s):  
Wananani. B. Tshiamo ◽  
Mabedi Kgositau ◽  
Mabel Magowe

The impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the social and economic lives of people including the area of education cannot be overemphasized. Continuing education is an important vehicle for maintaining and improving professional standards and keeping in synch with the latest trends in the profession, especially for health care providers. Hinged on literature review, document review and case study, this chapter aims to elaborate on the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) to health and medical care, and how ICTs can be used as a platform for CPD. Focusing on Botswana as a case study, the chapter explores challenges and issues faced by health care providers in using ICTs to access CPD and includes solutions and recommendations. Challenges identified included underdeveloped ICT infrastructure and limited use of available ICT resources by health care providers.


2009 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 127-127
Author(s):  
Melanie Hook

Infection control is of paramount importance for all health care providers and service users in private and NHS practice; daily, stories are published in the scientific and wider press highlighting or raising concerns on hygiene or cleanliness and infection control. All of the dental team have a responsibility to develop and assess their skills and knowledge. Since compulsory continuing professional development (CPD) for dental care professionals (DCPs) was introduced last year, the FGDP(UK) workshops have risen to the challenge, offering CPD-based learning for the integrated dental team without detracting from the daily workload and responsibilities.


1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Chilongozi ◽  
C. Costello ◽  
Daly L. Franco ◽  
N. G. Liomba ◽  
G. Dallabetta

A national survey of sexually transmitted disease (STD) case management was carried out at 39 health care facilities in Malawi in 1994. Fifty-four health care providers were observed managing 150 patients presenting with selected STD syndromes and 103 providers were interviewed. STD case management was assessed by calculation of WHO/GPA prevention indicators (PIs) from observation data. The overall rate for PI-6, which measures correct assessment and treatment of STD patients was 11% (81% for history taking, 46% in physical examination, and 13% correct antibiotic treatment according to national guidelines). The score for PI-7, which measures overall patient counselling was 29% (65% for partner notification and 40% for condom advice). Although Haemophilus ducreyi is at least as common as Treponema pallidum as the causative agent for genital ulcers, only 16% of patients with genital ulcers were treated effectively for chancroid vs 56% for syphilis. Female patients received less comprehensive care than male STD patients. Only 20% of STD patients were offered condoms. Overall, the survey results support the policy decision to adopt syndromic management of STDs, and provide baseline information for planning and evaluation of a national control programme.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Johnson ◽  
Arlene Masaba ◽  
Sadia Munir ◽  
Robin O’Dwyer ◽  
Amber Smith ◽  
...  

Background: Nurses play a crucial role in the prevention of communicable diseases through the public health immunization programs. Knowledge, attitude and practices of health care providers have significant impact on the vaccine administration and education of adults and parents of children.Objective: The present qualitative study aims to explore the knowledge, attitude and practices of nurses in Qatar before and after the delivery of the immunization-related continuous professional development program.Methods: 10 out of 125 nurses who have completed the training program volunteered to participate in the face-to-face interviews. Data was then collected, transcribed and analysed by the researcher team members.Results: Themes identified from this study: Empowerment, advancing practice and continuing education. Participants felt more confident and had a sense of fulfilment on completion of the education program. Practicing evidenced based skills and methods achieved an outcome of better quality of care, which can directly affect practice. Participants also felt that continuing education allows them to become self-motivated to keep up with new and emerging knowledge. Taken together, our data revealed that continuing professional education immunization-training program was successful in improving the knowledge, attitude and practices of the participants.Conclusions: Continued education beyond traditional baccalaureate nursing programs in order to ensure nurses possess the knowledge to safely handle, teach and administer vaccines is needed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Renae Ellen Bomar ◽  
Thalia Mulvihill

Context: Clinical experiences give the student athletic trainer the opportunity to relate and apply didactic information to a real-world setting. During these experiences student athletic trainers are supervised by certified, licensed health care providers working in a variety of settings (eg, hospital, physical therapy clinic, doctor's office). It is important to note the responsibilities these health care professionals (preceptors) take on when choosing to become a preceptor. Not only are they completing their normal, job-related tasks of patient care and administrative duties, but they are also responsible for the education and evaluation of student athletic trainers. Objective: This case study takes an in-depth look at a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II athletic training program's (ATP) preceptor training model and provides an example of how 1 program is developing its preceptors under the new Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) policies. It is meant to lay the foundation for further research in preceptor development by providing a description of training and development practices. This case study can be used as a guide to other ATPs and compared to other institutions to identify the best practices for preceptor development. Because the policies are new and little research has been done on preceptor development, this is the first step in creating effective evidence-based practices. Design: Ethnographic case study. Setting: One-on-one, in-person, semistructured interviews were conducted, audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim. A review of relevant (eg, training manuals) preceptor training documents was completed. Member checks were done as necessary for accuracy. Participants: One male, veteran off-campus preceptor, 1 female, novice on-campus preceptor, and the ATP clinical education coordinator participated. Participants were part of an NCAA Division II ATP located in Indiana. Results and Conclusions: The findings suggested that this program's preceptor training used various pedagogical designs and provided strong support to those involved.


1989 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 732-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Whatley ◽  
N Thin ◽  
B Reynolds ◽  
A Blackwell

Recent discussions highlighted adolescents’ sexual behaviour, but published studies concentrate on specific problems or subgroups of patients without addressing factors related to sexuality. To obtain a broad picture we studied two groups of adolescents attending genito-urinary medicine/sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in contrasting areas of Britain, inner London and Swansea. These were evaluated for referral pattern, sexual partner, contraception, obstetric history, sexually transmitted disease, and cervical cytology findings. Over half the adolescents referred themselves but few doctors other than general practitioners referred patients. Sexual partners were regarded by males as casual but by females as regular. Only 66% (81) of females practised contraception. Adolescents had more STD's than the total clinic population except for genital herpes simplex infection, and a high prevalence of genital warts in females has important future implications. The main conclusions were that there is a need for sexually related education targetted at adolescents and their health care providers, especially doctors.


1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 2223-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsai-Ling Lauderdale ◽  
Lenore Landers ◽  
Ian Thorneycroft ◽  
Kimberle Chapin

Screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in a greater proportion of sexually active patients has become an accepted protocol by most health care providers. The purpose of this study was to compare the current test methods for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis used at the University of South Alabama, the PACE 2 assay (Gen-Probe) and the Clearview EIA (Wampole Laboratories), with two amplification technologies, the AMP CT (Gen-Probe) and LCx (Abbott) assays. In addition, a number of demographic parameters were ascertained by asking questions at the time of examination as well as for health care provider concerns and preferences. One urine and four endocervical swab specimens were collected in random order from 787 female patients attending one of four obstetrics-gynecology clinics. Eighty-seven percent of patients had no STD-related symptoms. Patients were considered positive for C. trachomatis if three or more assays (swab and/or urine) were positive. Abbott and Gen-Probe confirmed discrepant results by alternate amplified assays. A total of 66 true-positive specimens were detected by use of the combination of endocervical swabs and urine specimens. After discrepant analysis, sensitivities for endocervical swab specimens for the EIA and the PACE 2, LCx, and AMP CT assays were 50, 81, 97, and 100%, respectively. Sensitivities for the LCx and AMP CT assays with urine specimens were 98 and 81%, respectively. The prevalence of C. trachomatiswas 8.4%, as determined by amplification technology. Overall, the amplification technologies were the most sensitive methods with either swab (AMP CT assay) or urine (LCx assay) specimens. The PACE 2 assay offered the advantage of a simpler and less expensive assay with acceptable sensitivity. The clearview CT EIA, while yielding a rapid in-office result, had unacceptably low sensitivity. The wide variation in performance with amplification assays with urine specimens as reported in both this study and the literature obviates the need to clarify optimal parameters for this specimen type.


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