A model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract The design of faculty development courses requires a contextually aware theoretical foundation. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the feasibility of a specific conjecture map as a model for designing online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa...

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Main Authors: L. Keiller, C. N. Nyoni, C. Van Wyk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-01-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04039-0
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author L. Keiller
C. N. Nyoni
C. Van Wyk
author_facet L. Keiller
C. N. Nyoni
C. Van Wyk
author_sort L. Keiller
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The design of faculty development courses requires a contextually aware theoretical foundation. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the feasibility of a specific conjecture map as a model for designing online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa through a heuristic evaluation approach. The authors hypothesise that using heuristic evaluation strengthens an educational model's theoretical basis and feasibility. Twenty-five health professions educators from nine sub-Saharan African countries participated in this multi-phased study. In the first phase, the participants completed a survey evaluating the model and the accompanying author-generated heuristics. Then, participants' recommendations were used to make revisions. In the subsequent phase, participants reviewed these revisions and commented on the feasibility of the model within their local context. All six heuristics were revised following the initial phase, where 80 problems had been identified. Upon revision, the model was deemed feasible by all except one participant. There was a strong relationship and inter-rater agreement of feasibility between 0.84 and 0.95 regarding the model's practicality, demand, acceptability, and adaptability. Revisions to the final model and guidance documents incorporated all changes the participants recommended, confirming the model's feasibility. Theoretical models are often developed through a top-down approach, omitting the practice-based considerations that could change the formulation of the model. This study demonstrates the convergence of a theoretical and process model with theoretical, expert and end-user data triangulation. Further research is needed to test this empirically developed model.
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spelling doaj.art-446de2389125402b90bb58f5ea0dbed02023-01-29T12:15:14ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-01-0123111010.1186/s12909-023-04039-0A model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan AfricaL. Keiller0C. N. Nyoni1C. Van Wyk2Division of Health Sciences Education, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateSchool of Nursing, University of the Free StateDivision of Health Sciences Education, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateAbstract The design of faculty development courses requires a contextually aware theoretical foundation. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the feasibility of a specific conjecture map as a model for designing online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa through a heuristic evaluation approach. The authors hypothesise that using heuristic evaluation strengthens an educational model's theoretical basis and feasibility. Twenty-five health professions educators from nine sub-Saharan African countries participated in this multi-phased study. In the first phase, the participants completed a survey evaluating the model and the accompanying author-generated heuristics. Then, participants' recommendations were used to make revisions. In the subsequent phase, participants reviewed these revisions and commented on the feasibility of the model within their local context. All six heuristics were revised following the initial phase, where 80 problems had been identified. Upon revision, the model was deemed feasible by all except one participant. There was a strong relationship and inter-rater agreement of feasibility between 0.84 and 0.95 regarding the model's practicality, demand, acceptability, and adaptability. Revisions to the final model and guidance documents incorporated all changes the participants recommended, confirming the model's feasibility. Theoretical models are often developed through a top-down approach, omitting the practice-based considerations that could change the formulation of the model. This study demonstrates the convergence of a theoretical and process model with theoretical, expert and end-user data triangulation. Further research is needed to test this empirically developed model.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04039-0Health professionsOnlineFaculty developmentEducational design researchHeuristic evaluationSub-Saharan Africa
spellingShingle L. Keiller
C. N. Nyoni
C. Van Wyk
A model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa
BMC Medical Education
Health professions
Online
Faculty development
Educational design research
Heuristic evaluation
Sub-Saharan Africa
title A model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa
title_full A model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa
title_fullStr A model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed A model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa
title_short A model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa
title_sort model for design of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub saharan africa
topic Health professions
Online
Faculty development
Educational design research
Heuristic evaluation
Sub-Saharan Africa
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04039-0
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