Online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in Rwanda
Abstract Background Due to outbreaks of new diseases, development of new treatment regimens and requirement of evidence-based practice, health professionals continuously need to acquire updated knowledge and skills. This type of learning is known as continuous professional development (CPD). The sca...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03938-y |
| _version_ | 1828170131492044800 |
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| author | Jean Claude Byungura Gerard Nyiringango Uno Fors Elenita Forsberg David K. Tumusiime |
| author_facet | Jean Claude Byungura Gerard Nyiringango Uno Fors Elenita Forsberg David K. Tumusiime |
| author_sort | Jean Claude Byungura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Due to outbreaks of new diseases, development of new treatment regimens and requirement of evidence-based practice, health professionals continuously need to acquire updated knowledge and skills. This type of learning is known as continuous professional development (CPD). The scarcity of skilled health care professionals in developing countries further increases the need of CPD. Traditionally, face-to-face approach has been preferred as the best mode of CPD. Currently, health professionals have started using online learning for continued professional growth in different parts of the world. Consequently, research studies from different settings are needed to investigate the significance of online learning for CPD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the importance and challenges attributed to online learning by the managers of health facilities in Rwanda. Moreover, the study aimed to identify the status of infrastructures that could support online CPD, and assess the perceived enhancement and barriers for implementing online CPD. Methods The study used a convergence mixed-method design to explore quantitative and qualitative data from 42 health care managers. A descriptive analysis was conducted on quantitative data while qualitative data were thematically analyzed to inform the study findings. Results It was revealed that 90.5% of managers, who participated in this study, consider positively the use of online learning for CPD. All managers acknowledged that online learning could improve the knowledge and practice skills of health care professionals. Nevertheless, 52.4% of health institutions who participated in this study currently do not use online for CPD. Participants demonstrated challenges such as the lack of access to digital devices, poor or lack of internet access, poor online learning design, low digital skills of healthcare professionals, lack of time dedicated to online learning, and heavy workload of staff. Conclusion These findings indicate then that the managers of health institutions value the importance of online learning for CPD of health professionals. However, online learning should be designed to fit for the purpose and with a high consideration on needs and preferences of healthcare professionals and thereby improve information communication technology infrastructure that support online learning for CPD. Traditional in-person CPD courses are still recommended in health institutions with shortage in resources and technology. Also, the barriers of online CPD delivery such as low internet connectivity and lack of access to digital devices by healthcare professionals need to be co-creatively addressed through the pyramidal structure of the Rwandan health system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:03:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-338279c9d2d34e9fa62ea96ffb50e1ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:03:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-338279c9d2d34e9fa62ea96ffb50e1ce2022-12-22T03:50:33ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202022-12-0122111410.1186/s12909-022-03938-yOnline learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in RwandaJean Claude Byungura0Gerard Nyiringango1Uno Fors2Elenita Forsberg3David K. Tumusiime4Department of Business Information Technology, University of RwandaDepartment of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm UniversityDepartment of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm UniversitySchool of Health and Welfare, Halmstad UniversityCenter of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and E-health, University of RwandaAbstract Background Due to outbreaks of new diseases, development of new treatment regimens and requirement of evidence-based practice, health professionals continuously need to acquire updated knowledge and skills. This type of learning is known as continuous professional development (CPD). The scarcity of skilled health care professionals in developing countries further increases the need of CPD. Traditionally, face-to-face approach has been preferred as the best mode of CPD. Currently, health professionals have started using online learning for continued professional growth in different parts of the world. Consequently, research studies from different settings are needed to investigate the significance of online learning for CPD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the importance and challenges attributed to online learning by the managers of health facilities in Rwanda. Moreover, the study aimed to identify the status of infrastructures that could support online CPD, and assess the perceived enhancement and barriers for implementing online CPD. Methods The study used a convergence mixed-method design to explore quantitative and qualitative data from 42 health care managers. A descriptive analysis was conducted on quantitative data while qualitative data were thematically analyzed to inform the study findings. Results It was revealed that 90.5% of managers, who participated in this study, consider positively the use of online learning for CPD. All managers acknowledged that online learning could improve the knowledge and practice skills of health care professionals. Nevertheless, 52.4% of health institutions who participated in this study currently do not use online for CPD. Participants demonstrated challenges such as the lack of access to digital devices, poor or lack of internet access, poor online learning design, low digital skills of healthcare professionals, lack of time dedicated to online learning, and heavy workload of staff. Conclusion These findings indicate then that the managers of health institutions value the importance of online learning for CPD of health professionals. However, online learning should be designed to fit for the purpose and with a high consideration on needs and preferences of healthcare professionals and thereby improve information communication technology infrastructure that support online learning for CPD. Traditional in-person CPD courses are still recommended in health institutions with shortage in resources and technology. Also, the barriers of online CPD delivery such as low internet connectivity and lack of access to digital devices by healthcare professionals need to be co-creatively addressed through the pyramidal structure of the Rwandan health system.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03938-yOnline learningContinuous professional developmentHealth professionalsDigital healthHealthcare managers |
| spellingShingle | Jean Claude Byungura Gerard Nyiringango Uno Fors Elenita Forsberg David K. Tumusiime Online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in Rwanda BMC Medical Education Online learning Continuous professional development Health professionals Digital health Healthcare managers |
| title | Online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in Rwanda |
| title_full | Online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in Rwanda |
| title_fullStr | Online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in Rwanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in Rwanda |
| title_short | Online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in Rwanda |
| title_sort | online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in rwanda |
| topic | Online learning Continuous professional development Health professionals Digital health Healthcare managers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03938-y |
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