scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators to e-learning in palliative care

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 394-402
Author(s):  
Joanne Callinan

Background: E-learning provides opportunities for flexible learning to those who cannot access palliative education in the traditional classroom setting, but it also presents learners with challenges. The study aims to identify the barriers and facilitators to accessing e-learning courses in palliative care. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were developed, piloted and disseminated to healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in palliative care on the island of Ireland (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). Results: Important factors that motivated HCPs to participate in e-learning are: dedicated time; quick technical and administrative support; computer training before completing an e-learning course; and regular contact with the tutor in online course work. Some 50% indicated face-to-face assistance and hands-on training sessions as the type of support that they would like to receive. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals' prior experiences and attitudes towards e-learning will guide educators developing programmes. This study indicates the prerequisite for organisational supports and practical considerations to facilitate the uptake of e-learning.

Author(s):  
Marco Adria ◽  
Katy Campbell

This chapter is concerned with how individuals may examine the potential for social change arising from interactions in an e-learning environment. We explore continuing education as the site for e-learning in the context of developing a civil society. Referring to Anderson’s (1991) work on nationalism, and Wenger, McDermott, and Snyder’s (2002) discussion of communities of practice, we argue that the transition from face-to-face teaching to e-learning has the potential to appeal to those learners, and their instructors, who are interested in the capacity of a community to contribute to social change. We are particularly interested in the potential of e-learning to be socially transformative in its power to be inclusive, that is, to support diverse cultures, languages, work contexts, learning needs and styles, prior experiences, generations, economic circumstances, social contexts, and geographic location. We have suggested that the metaphor of an e-learning nation supports the reflective and progressive development of learning communities in which identity is consciously and critically examined.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1428-1437
Author(s):  
Lucy Walker ◽  
Karen Neoh ◽  
Hazel Gilkes ◽  
Clare Rayment

Background: Corneal transplantation can lead to sight restoration, but globally there is a donor shortage. Many palliative care patients can donate their corneas but think they are ineligible due to comorbidities. Healthcare professionals are reluctant to broach the topic, but studies have shown that relatives would be upset if they were not offered this chance. There is no existing research involving patients. Aim: To understand the views and feelings of patients in palliative care settings towards corneal donation and explore their opinions regarding the timing of its discussion. Design: This is an exploratory study based at one UK palliative care unit. A census sampling method was used. Nine participants took part in semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis was undertaken. Results: Themes found included altruistic motivation and the value of sight. Family views were important, but the influence on final decisions varied. The timing of discussion relative to the illness trajectory was important; patients want to be able to engage fully in conversations and had concerns about not being able to think clearly when closer to death. Participants also associated discussion of donation as an indication of a poor prognosis. Patients prefer face-to-face discussions with someone whom they had a close rapport. Many had misconceptions about eligibility. Conclusion: This is the first study to engage directly with palliative care patients and to establish their views on the timing of corneal donation discussions. Patients are willing to discuss donation, and further exploration of patient views in this area should be undertaken.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (7) ◽  
pp. 604-609
Author(s):  
Duygu Zorlu ◽  
Veysel Akca

Introduction: Sleep disturbances and anxiety are the first physical reflections observed in healthcare professionals. The aim was to reveal the sleep characteristics and moods of healthcare professionals during the pandemic for making improvements and provide support. Methods: This study is observational and cross-sectional study and was carried out in a training and research hospital in Kirsehir, Turkey. A total of 48 nurses, 25 doctors, 37 assistant health personnel, 12 security guards, and 25 medical secretaries were included, of which 147 were healthcare professionals and 50 were not healthcare professionals (control group). Three questionnaires were used; two to measure sleep, one to measure stress. The volunteer participants were administered face-to-face Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Beck Stress Scale (BSS) simultaneously and scored individually. These scores were evaluated separately for demographic characteristics and their association with occupational groups. Results: A total of 197 people were included in the study, of which 147 were healthcare professionals, and 50 were not healthcare professionals (control group). The average age of the participants was 34.15 ± 9.18 years. The participants’ average PSQI (6.25 ± 3.24), ESS (7.46 ± 3.16), and BSS (11.26 ± 4.65) were calculated. The difference between the BSS (p < 0.01) and PSQI (p < 0.05) values of women and men was statistically significant. BSS and PSQI values were low in security guards. However, these values were high in nurses. The occupational experience of the participants in all three scales was not statistically significant. It was higher in the control group than the healthcare professional group. However, these differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Discussion and Conclusion: In the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no difference in sleep and anxiety characteristics between health workers and non-health workers and the most common group of healthcare professionals with anxiety, sleep disorders was nurses. Based on the results, women and nurses between the ages of 31-35 should be given priority in support of healthcare professionals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (COVID19-S4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Abbasi ◽  
Tahera Ayoob ◽  
Abdul Malik ◽  
Shabnam Iqbal Memon

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of students towards e-learning during the lock down. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry. MBBS and BDS students of all levels participated in the study with a sample size calculated as 377. A self-administered questionnaire was developed. After validation from the Medical Education Experts, pilot test was run on 30 participants before the administration of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was emailed to the participants for data collection. Reliability of the questionnaire was determined. Independent T-test was applied for determining the perceptions of students towards e-learning. Frequencies and percentages were also computed for demographics. Results: Total 382 responses were received.137 males and 245 females participated in the study. 0.851 was calculated as Cronbach’s alpha of the questionnaire. Overall, 77% students have negative perceptions towards e-learning. 76% of the students use mobile device for their e-learning. Conclusion: Students did not prefer e-teaching over face-to-face teaching during the lock down situation. Administration and faculty members should take necessary measures for improving e-teaching for better learning during lock down. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2766 How to cite this:Abbasi S, Ayoob T, Malik A, Memon SI. Perceptions of students regarding E-learning during Covid-19 at a private medical college. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(COVID19-S4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.COVID19-S4.2766 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


RMD Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e001121
Author(s):  
Elke G E Mathijssen ◽  
Bart J F van den Bemt ◽  
Sabien Wielsma ◽  
Frank H J van den Hoogen ◽  
Johanna E Vriezekolk

ObjectivesTo explore physicians’ and nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and experiences of shared decision making (SDM) in rheumatology, to identify barriers and facilitators to SDM, and to examine whether physicians’ and nurses’ perspectives of SDM differ.MethodsA cross-sectional, exploratory, online survey was used. Besides demographic characteristics, healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and experiences of SDM in rheumatology were assessed. Barriers and facilitators to SDM were identified from healthcare professionals’ answers. Descriptive statistics were computed and differences between physicians’ and nurses’ perspectives of SDM were examined with a t-test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate.ResultsBetween April and June 2019, 77 physicians and 70 nurses completed the survey. Although most healthcare professionals lacked a full conceptual understanding of SDM, almost all physicians (92%) and all nurses had a (very) positive attitude toward SDM, which was most frequently motivated by the belief that SDM improves patients’ treatment adherence. The majority (>50%) of healthcare professionals experienced problems with the application of SDM in clinical practice, mostly related to time constraints. Other important barriers were the incompatibility of SDM with clinical practice guidelines and beliefs that patients do not prefer to be involved in decision making or are not able to take an active role. Modest differences between physicians’ and nurses’ perspectives of SDM were found.ConclusionsThere is a clear need for education and training that equips and empowers healthcare professionals to apply SDM. Furthermore, the commitment of time, resources and financial support for national, regional and organisational initiatives is needed to make SDM in rheumatology a practical reality.


2021 ◽  
pp. 082585972110627
Author(s):  
Elena Solveig Grüneberg ◽  
Jorge Ramos-Guerrero ◽  
Tania Pastrana

Objective: An enormous need for pediatric palliative care (PPC) has been reported, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the access to PPC is limited. This study identifies the current challenges in the provision of PPC and their severity from the perspective of healthcare professionals. Method: We conducted a web-based descriptive cross-sectional survey among healthcare professionals treating children in need of palliative care in Mexico in 2019. We used convenience sampling and snowball sampling to acquire participants. Results: Seventy healthcare professionals from Mexico participated. Participants were 64.3% female, on average 45.8 (SD = 10.9) years old, had an average of 15.84 (SD = 10.4) years of work experience and worked in 15 states. The three most severe barriers reported were: (1) Few teams and/or networks of out-of-hospital/domestic support; (2) Absence of training centres and continuing medical/paramedical education in PPC; and (3) Lack of legal, labor, and economic protection for parents who must stop working to be with their children. The barriers related to a lack of awareness and commitment, a lack of support, legal factors, and working conditions were rated highest. Participants considered increased awareness and better knowledge of PPC for all as the top priority, and particularly emphasized the need for better education and training of health professionals. Conclusion: We have identified several barriers to successful palliative care (PC) provision for children. Primarily, these are lack of awareness and commitment, especially of the health authorities and the medical professions, lack of personal and financial support, legal factors, and working conditions. The need to change and improve care exists at the policy level, the health professional level, and the public societal level.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 3154-3155
Author(s):  
Shafaq Naseer ◽  
Imrana Zulfikar ◽  
Farhan Zaheer ◽  
Fariha Butt ◽  
Saima Sagheer ◽  
...  

Aim: To explore the perceptions, limitations and recommendations for hybrid teaching. Methodology: This is a cross sectional study, conducted in the academic session of 2021 among the students of Dow medical college including third years through final years. Convenient sampling is used. The questionnaire was created on Google and forms were emailed to the students. Likert scale is applied to record the responses. Results: Total of 102 students of both genders filled the questionnaire. Students were mostly from third year, fourth year and final year. Most of the students had no previous experience of e- learning. 36.3% students agreed that hybrid teaching is better than face to face or online sessions alone. 31.4% were of the opinion that hybrid teaching covers the strong points of both face to face and online teaching. Conclusion: Covid-19 makes classroom medical education difficult but blended or hybrid teaching and learning would seem to be the perfect solution to overcome the challenges. Keywords: Hybrid teaching, distance learning, Covid 19


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahma Nur Praptiwi ◽  
Maria Nino Istia ◽  
Kristin Lukitaningrum

The existence of individuals with developmental and sensory disabilities (DIII MP-WNBK students) at the Jakarta State Polytechnic is a concern, especially when it is observed how they interact, the way they receive and attend lectures in class. So the situation that is completely online like this, becomes a challenge for them. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of distance education for MP-WNBK DIII students, and to explain efforts to improve their skills in accessing online lectures through the elearning.pnj.ac.id platform. This study uses an intervention method with a quantitative approach. The design of this research is a cross sectional study. The sample in this study was PS DIII MP-WNBK PNJ students. The number of samples taken as many as 76 students from a population of 92 students. The results of this study conclude that both lecturers and students enjoy using e-learning as a learning medium during distance learning. Learning with a high level of interaction is fun for both lecturers and students because it approaches face-to-face learning. Almost all students are able to use e-learning. E-learning is quite effective for distance learning.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1103-1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlieke den Herder-van der Eerden ◽  
Anne Ebenau ◽  
Sheila Payne ◽  
Nancy Preston ◽  
Lukas Radbruch ◽  
...  

Background: Although examining perspectives of patients on integrated palliative care organisation is essential, available literature is largely based on administrative data or healthcare professionals’ perspectives. Aim: (1) Providing insight into the composition and quality of care networks of patients receiving palliative care and (2) describing perceived integration between healthcare professionals within these networks and its association with overall satisfaction. Design: Cross-sectional explorative design. Setting/participants: We recruited 157 patients (62% cancer, 25% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 13% chronic heart failure, mean age 68 years, 55% female) from 23 integrated palliative care initiatives in Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary and the Netherlands. Results: About 33% reported contact with a palliative care specialist and 48% with a palliative care nurse. Relationships with palliative care specialists were rated significantly higher than other physicians ( p < 0.001). Compared to patients with cancer, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio = 0.16, confidence interval (0.04; 0.57)) and chronic heart failure (odds ratio = 0.11, confidence interval (0.01; 0.93)) had significantly lower odds of reporting contact with palliative care specialists and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio = 0.23, confidence interval (0.08; 0.71)) had significantly lower odds of reporting contact with palliative care nurses. Perceptions of main responsible healthcare professionals or caregivers in patient’s care networks varied across countries. Perceived integration was significantly associated with overall satisfaction. Conclusion: Palliative care professionals are not always present or recognised as such in patients’ care networks. Expert palliative care involvement needs to be explicated especially for non-cancer patients. One healthcare professional should support patients in understanding and navigating their palliative care network. Patients seem satisfied with care provision as long as continuity of care is provided.


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