Somayeh Ebrahimi Kooshkmahdi, Reza Assadi,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (5-2012)
Abstract
Introduction: One of the educational methods which can overcome time and distance limitations is electronic learning. Healthcare professionals, facing with such limitations, also need continuing education to keep their information up to date. This study was conducted to evaluate the utilization of electronic courses by the medical professionals in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and its relation with the courses’ characteristics. Methods: In this descriptive study, all medical professionals under coverage of Khorasan Razavi province continuing medical education (CME) program, were included. Records of participants in all (16) electronic CME courses during the first ten months of its establishment were extracted from CME information system. Data included the topics of presented courses in this time interval, the number of subscribers in each topic and each month, the number of individuals passed the course, the duration of each course, and the number of credit points for each course. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation test. Results: The total number of participants was 824 (five percent of the total number of eligible professionals in the province). A total of 286 subjects (34.7%) achieved the acceptance grade in different courses. There was a significant relationship between the number of participants in a program and the course’s credit points (P=0.02, r=0.63) but no relationship was observed between the course’s points and the rate of participants’ achievement (P=0.48, r=0.067). In addition, the achievement rate in short term courses(less than 6 hours) was significantly more than long term courses (P<0.03, r=-0.70). Conclusion: Online CMEs are helpful but the prerequisite is an appropriate design, presentation of short term courses, and observation on content production. These courses should be accessible for learners and endow appropriate credit points to the learners to motivate learners to utilize these programs.
Morteza Karami, Mohammad Reza Ahanchian, Somayeh Ebrahimi Kooshk Mahdi,
Volume 12, Issue 5 (8-2012)
Abstract
Introduction: The rapid development of science and technology has endowed a fresh significance to continuing education as its necessity has become undeniable. Considering the significance of keeping physicians’ knowledge up-to-date and their limited free time to participate in their classes on the other hand, e-learning could be a useful option to train these people. The main objective of this study is to identify main factors which deter these physicians to participate in e-learning courses of continuing medical education in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed during summer 2011 in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Study population included 378 physicians subject to continuing medical education which were selected through stratified sampling method. Data gathering tool was a reliable and valid questionnaire made by researcher. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.
Results: Considering the weighted mean achieved, contextual issues (2.71±.63) showed the highest and personal issues (2.15±.70) and attitudinal issues (1.98±.64)( out of 4) showed the lowest deterrence rate respectively. Personal concerns of individuals formerly participated in e-learning courses were lower than that of individuals who didn’t participate beforehand (p<0.01, F=6.51). The scores attributed to each of these three fields of personal, contextual, and attitudinal problems to attend e-learning courses were higher for men compared to woman (f=86.1, p<0.01).
Conclusion: Contextual problems were the most important deterring factor among community of continuing medical education to participate in e-learning courses.
