scholarly journals Distance learning training in genetics and genomics practices for Italian healthcare professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
G E Calabrò ◽  
A Mazzaccara ◽  
P Carbone ◽  
D Barbina ◽  
D Guerrera ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Genomics and related fields are becoming increasingly relevant in healthcare practice. Italy is the first European country with a structured policy of Public Health Genomics and dedicated guidelines that focus on three pillars: Health Technology Assessment of omic applications, promotion of citizens' literacy, and promotion of extensive training for all healthcare stakeholders. In January 2019 we initiated a project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and entitled 'Capacity building and Citizens-Omics'. Objectives The project is coordinated by the National Institute of Health and is aimed at implementing the “Italian National Plan for innovation of the healthcare system based on omics sciences” published in 2017. Results The project had set-up two distance-learning courses on genetic/genomics: an advanced course for physicians and biologists, and a basic one for the remaining healthcare professionals. The courses focused on genetic/genomic testing in clinical practice, pharmacogenomics and oncogenomic and they were developed according to the main models of andragogical training (Problem-based Learning and Case-based Learning). The courses include audio-video lectures and interactive clinical cases and they will be accessible free of charge for a year (from February 17th 2020). In three weeks, we had 2129 participants (1101 physicians, 1028 biologists) for the advanced course and 10.000 for the basic one. Conclusions Genomic literacy among healthcare professionals is essential to ensure optimal translation to healthcare delivery of research. The distance-learning training in genetic/genomic practices represents an effective method to improve healthcare professionals' knowledge in the immediate and mid-term time scale. Our courses represent the third Italian experience in distance training in omic field. The educational effects related with online courses could potentially be relevant internationally and across a wider range of potential audiences. Key messages In view of the ongoing rapid developments in genetics research it is important that omic literacy among healthcare providers be enhanced to ensure translation to healthcare delivery of research. E-learning training appears to offer a cost-effective and time-efficient method of improving omic knowledge and it could be relevant across a wider range of potential audiences.

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e041108
Author(s):  
Isabella Joy de Vere Hunt ◽  
Abigail McNiven ◽  
Amanda Roberts ◽  
Himesh Parmar ◽  
Tess McPherson

BackgroundThere is little qualitative research in the UK focussing on adolescents’ experience of their healthcare providers, and inflammatory skin conditions are a common heath problem in adolescence.AimTo explore the experiences of adolescents with eczema and psoriasis with healthcare professionals, and to distil the participants’ key messages for their healthcare providers.DesignThis is a secondary thematic analysis of interviews with adolescents with eczema or psoriasis.ParticipantsThere were a total of 41 text transcripts of interviews with young people with eczema or psoriasis who had given permission for secondary analysis; 23 of the participants had eczema, and 18 psoriasis. Participants were living in the UK at time of interview, and aged 15–24 years old.ResultsWe have distilled the following key messages from young people with eczema and psoriasis for healthcare providers: (1) address the emotional impact; (2) give more information, with the subtheme and (3) appreciate patient research. We identified the following eczema-specific themes: (ECZ-4) ‘It’s not taken seriously’; (ECZ-5) offer choice in treatment and (ECZ-6) lack of structure/conflicting advice. Two psoriasis-specific themes were identified: (PSO-4) feeling dehumanised/treat me as a person; and (PSO-5) think about how treatments will affect daily life.ConclusionThis qualitative data analysis highlights the need for greater recognition of the emotional impact of skin disease in adolescence, and for more comprehensive provision of information about the conditions. We call for greater sensitivity and flexibility in our approach to adolescents with skin disease, with important implications for healthcare delivery to this group.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bodil Ivarsson ◽  
Björn Ekmehag ◽  
Trygve Sjöberg

Background. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are fatal, noncurable, but treatable diseases that strongly affect the patients.Objective. To describe patients’ experience of information relating to PAH or CTEPH.Methods. A qualitative method using content analysis was applied. Seventeen patients (thirteen women and four men) aged 28–73 years from a regional PAH centre were individually interviewed.Results. Three categories that describe patients’ experiences of information emerged: handling of information, struggling with feelings that also affect others, and vulnerability associated with uncertainty. The patients would have welcomed more information to relatives from the healthcare professionals. Shortcomings on communicating a prognosis were experienced. The mediated information and knowledge gave the patients insight into physical or psychosocial problems. Mutual exchange of information between patients and healthcare professionals were marred by different experiences of attitudes, behaviour, and ownership.Conclusions. In the future, healthcare organizations must struggle to achieve a holistic healthcare by making it more person-centred, and they must also promote cooperation between PAH centres and local healthcare providers. It is essential to determine the most appropriate and valuable path of information and communication and, thereby, the most cost-effective management of PAH or CTEPH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Elisa Calabrò ◽  
Alessia Tognetto ◽  
Alfonso Mazzaccara ◽  
Donatella Barbina ◽  
Pietro Carbone ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe rapid spread of personalized medicine requires professionals to manage the “omics revolution.” Therefore, the genetics/genomics literacy of healthcare professionals should be in line with the continuous advances in this field, in order to implement its potential implications for diagnosis, control and treatment of diseases. The present study investigates the effectiveness of a distance learning course on genetics and genomics targeted at medical doctors.MethodsIn the context of a project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, we developed a distance learning course, entitled Genetics and Genomics practice. The course focused on genetic/genomics testing, pharmacogenetics and oncogenomics and was developed according to andragogical training methods (Problem-based Learning and Case-based Learning). We used a pre-test vs. post-test study design to assess knowledge improvement on a set of 10 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). We analyzed the proportion of correct answers for each question pre and post-test and the mean score difference stratified by gender, age, professional status and medical discipline. Moreover, the test was submitted to the participants 8 months after the conclusion of the course (follow-up), in order to assess the retained knowledge.ResultsThe course was completed by 1,637 Italian physicians, most of which were primary care physicians (20.8%), public health professionals (11.5%) and specialist pediatricians (10.6%). The proportion of correct answers increased in the post-test for all the MCQs. The overall mean score significantly increased, from 59.46 in the pre-test to 71.42 in the post-test (p < 0.0001). The comparison in test performance between follow-up and pre-test demonstrated an overall knowledge improvement.ConclusionGenomics literacy among healthcare professionals is essential to ensure optimal translation to healthcare delivery of research. The results of this course suggest that distance-learning training in genetic/genomics practice represents an effective method to improve physicians’ knowledge in the immediate and mid-term time scale. A preprint version of this paper is available at: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-10083/v1.


2021 ◽  
pp. 095148482110117
Author(s):  
Paul B van der Nat

The model for value-based healthcare introduced in 2006 by Porter and Teisberg is still relevant, but it is incomplete. Porter and Teisberg put a strong focus on measuring outcomes, but how to use these measurements to actually improve quality of care has not been described. In addition, value-based healthcare as originally introduced neglects that a true shift from volume to patient value requires a change in culture and way of working of healthcare professionals. The original strategic agenda for value transformation (in short: ‘value agenda’) consists of six elements: organize into Integrated Practice Units (1), measure outcomes and costs for every patient (2), move to bundled payments for care cycles (3), integrate care delivery systems (4), expand geographic reach (5), and build an enabling information technology platform (6). For value-based healthcare to become a reality, the strategic agenda needs to be extended with four elements. First, healthcare providers need to set up a systematic approach for value-based quality improvement. Second, value needs to be integrated in patient communication. Third, we should invest in a culture of value delivery. And fourth, we should build learning platforms for healthcare professionals based on patient outcome data. Best practices on value-based healthcare implementation are working on these four elements in addition to the original value agenda. In conclusion, a new strategic agenda for value transformation is proposed that combines the vision of the founders of value-based healthcare with implementation experience in order to support healthcare providers in their shift to become value-based.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Elisa Calabrò ◽  
Alessia Tognetto ◽  
Alfonso Mazzaccara ◽  
Donatella Barbina ◽  
Pietro Carbone ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. The rapid adoption of personalized medicine approaches in healthcare requires professionals to be able to manage the “omics revolution”. In this context, the genetics/genomics literacy of healthcare professionals should be in line with the continuous advances in this field, in order to implement its potential implications for the diagnosis, control and treatment of diseases. The present study investigates the effectiveness of a distance learning course on genetics and genomics targeted at medical doctors.Methods. In the context of a project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health in 2017, we had set up a distance learning course, entitled Genetics and Genomics practice. The contents of the course were identified from a core curriculum in genetics directed mainly to general practitioners, for physicians and healthcare professionals, previously published. The course focused on genetic/genomic testing in clinical practice, pharmacogenomics and oncogenomic and it was developed according to the main models of andragogical training (Problem-based Learning and Case-based Learning). We used a pre-test versus post-test study design to assess knowledge improvement on a set of 10 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). We analysed the proportion of correct answers for each question pre and post-test, as well as the mean score difference stratified by gender, age, professional status and medical discipline. Moreover, the same test was submitted to the participants eight months after the conclusion of the course, in order to assess the retained knowledge.Results. An important number of Italian physicians (N= 1637) completed the course, most of which were primary care physicians (20.8%), public health professionals (11.5%) and specialist paediatricians (10.6%). We reported an improvement in the proportion of correct answers for all of the 10 MCQs set at the post-test. The overall mean score to the questions significantly increased in the post-test, from 59.46 in the pre-test to 71.42 in the post-test (p-value < 0.0001). Conclusions. Genomic literacy among healthcare professionals is essential to ensure optimal translation to healthcare delivery of research. The results of this course suggest that distance-learning training in genetic/genomic practices represents an effective method to improve physicians’ knowledge in the immediate and mid-term time scale.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Elisa Calabrò ◽  
Alessia Tognetto ◽  
Alfonso Mazzaccara ◽  
Donatella Barbina ◽  
Pietro Carbone ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. The rapid adoption of personalized medicine approaches in healthcare requires professionals to be able to manage the “omics revolution”. In this context, the genetics/genomics literacy of healthcare professionals should be in line with the continuous advances in this field, in order to implement its potential implications for the diagnosis, control and treatment of diseases. The present study investigates the effectiveness of a distance learning course on genetics and genomics targeted at medical doctors.Methods. In the context of a project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, we developed a distance learning course, entitled Genetics and Genomics practice. The contents of the course were identified from a core curriculum in genetics for physicians and healthcare professionals, previously published. The course focused on genetic/genomic testing in clinical practice, pharmacogenomics and oncogenomic and was developed according to andragogical training methods (Problem-based Learning and Case-based Learning). We used a pre-test versus post-test study design to assess knowledge improvement on a set of 10 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). We analysed the proportion of correct answers for each question pre and post-test, as well as the mean score difference stratified by gender, age, professional status and medical discipline. Moreover, the same test was submitted to the participants eight months after the conclusion of the course (follow-up), in order to assess the retained knowledge.Results. An important number of Italian physicians (N= 1637) completed the course, most of which were primary care physicians (20.8%), public health professionals (11.5%) and specialist paediatricians (10.6%). We reported an improvement in the proportion of correct answers for all of the 10 MCQs set at the post-test. The overall mean score to the questions significantly increased in the post-test, from 59.46 in the pre-test to 71.42 in the post-test (p-value<0.0001). The comparison in test performance between follow-up and pre-test demonstrated an overall knowledge improvement.Conclusions. Genomic literacy among healthcare professionals is essential to ensure optimal translation to healthcare delivery of research. The results of this course suggest that distance-learning training in genetic/genomic practices represents an effective method to improve physicians’ knowledge in the immediate and mid-term time scale.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Winnie Thembisile Maphumulo ◽  
Busisiwe Bhengu

The National Department of Health in South Africa has introduced the National Core Standards (NCS) tool to improve the quality of healthcare delivery in all public healthcare institutions. Knowledge of the NCS tool is essential among healthcare providers. This study investigated the level of knowledge on NCS and how the NCS tool was communicated among professional nurses. This was a cross-sectional survey study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select hospitals that only offered tertiary services in KwaZulu-Natal. Six strata of departments were selected using simple stratified sampling. The population of professional nurses in the selected hospitals was 3 050. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit 543 participants. The collected data were analysed using SPSS version 25. The study showed that only 16 (3.7%) respondents had knowledge about NCS, using McDonald’s standard of learning outcome measured criteria regarding the NCS tool. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the communication and knowledge was r = 0.055. The results revealed that although the communication scores for the respondents were high their knowledge scores remained low. This study concluded that there is a lack of knowledge regarding the NCS tool and therefore healthcare institutions need to commit themselves to the training of professional nurses regarding the NCS tool. The findings suggest that healthcare institutions implement the allocation of incentives for nurses that attend the workshops for NCS.


2002 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 491-502
Author(s):  
Mary L. Durham

While the new Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA) research rules governing privacy, confidentiality and personal health information will challenge the research and medical communities, history teaches us that the difficulty of this challenge pales in comparison to the potential harms that such regulations are designed to avoid. Although revised following broad commentary from researchers and healthcare providers around the country, the HIPAA privacy requirements will dramatically change the way healthcare researchers do their jobs in the United States. Given our reluctance to change, we risk overlooking potentially valid reasons why access to personal health information is restricted and regulated. In an environment of electronic information, public concern, genetic information and decline of public trust, regulations are ever-changing. Six categories of HIPAA requirements stand out as transformative: disclosure accounting/tracking, business associations, institutional review board (IRB) changes, minimum necessary requirements, data de-identification, and criminal and civil penalties.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 661
Author(s):  
Luigi Piazzi ◽  
Stefano Acunto ◽  
Francesca Frau ◽  
Fabrizio Atzori ◽  
Maria Francesca Cinti ◽  
...  

Seagrass planting techniques have shown to be an effective tool for restoring degraded meadows and ecosystem function. In the Mediterranean Sea, most restoration efforts have been addressed to the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica, but cost-benefit analyses have shown unpromising results. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of environmental engineering techniques generally employed in terrestrial systems to restore the P. oceanica meadows: two different restoration efforts were considered, either exploring non-degradable mats or, for the first time, degradable mats. Both of them provided encouraging results, as the loss of transplanting plots was null or very low and the survival of cuttings stabilized to about 50%. Data collected are to be considered positive as the survived cuttings are enough to allow the future spread of the patches. The utilized techniques provided a cost-effective restoration tool likely affordable for large-scale projects, as the methods allowed to set up a wide bottom surface to restore in a relatively short time without any particular expensive device. Moreover, the mats, comparing with other anchoring methods, enhanced the colonization of other organisms such as macroalgae and sessile invertebrates, contributing to generate a natural habitat.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1233
Author(s):  
Ernest Osei ◽  
Kwasi Agyei ◽  
Boikhutso Tlou ◽  
Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies have been identified as promising strategies for improving access to healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. However, the extent of availability and use of mHealth among healthcare professionals in Ghana is not known. The study’s main objective was to examine the availability and use of mHealth for disease diagnosis and treatment support by healthcare professionals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 285 healthcare professionals across 100 primary healthcare clinics in the Ashanti Region with an adopted survey tool. We obtained data on the participants’ background, available health infrastructure, healthcare workforce competency, ownership of a mobile wireless device, usefulness of mHealth, ease of use of mHealth, user satisfaction, and behavioural intention to use mHealth. Descriptive statistics were conducted to characterise healthcare professionals’ demographics and clinical features. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the influence of the demographic factors on the availability and use of mHealth for disease diagnosis and treatment support. STATA version 15 was used to complete all the statistical analyses. Out of the 285 healthcare professionals, 64.91% indicated that mHealth is available to them, while 35.08% have no access to mHealth. Of the 185 healthcare professionals who have access to mHealth, 98.4% are currently using mHealth to support healthcare delivery. Logistic regression model analysis significantly (p < 0.05) identified that factors such as the availability of mobile wireless devices, phone calls, text messages, and mobile apps are associated with HIV, TB, medication adherence, clinic appointments, and others. There is a significant association between the availability of mobile wireless devices, text messages, phone calls, mobile apps, and their use for disease diagnosis and treatment compliance from the chi-square test analysis. The findings demonstrate a low level of mHealth use for disease diagnosis and treatment support by healthcare professionals at rural clinics. We encourage policymakers to promote the implementation of mHealth in rural clinics.


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