Implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context: a study of effectiveness and feasibility
Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) problems are common, yet many primary care (PC) providers feel inadequately trained to manage these conditions. Previous studies describe successful MSK educational innovations at single sites, but none have reported on subsequent attempts to replicate or adapt thes...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Medical Education Online |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2020.1760466 |
| _version_ | 1818749757075488768 |
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| author | Meg Pearson Andrea M. Barker Michael J. Battistone Stephen Bent Krista Odden Bridget O’Brien |
| author_facet | Meg Pearson Andrea M. Barker Michael J. Battistone Stephen Bent Krista Odden Bridget O’Brien |
| author_sort | Meg Pearson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) problems are common, yet many primary care (PC) providers feel inadequately trained to manage these conditions. Previous studies describe successful MSK educational innovations at single sites, but none have reported on subsequent attempts to replicate or adapt these innovations to new contexts. This article presents a study of a national Veterans Affairs MSK training program modified to fit an existing PC educational program. Objectives: (1) To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of an adapted MSK curriculum in a new context. (2) To provide a model for adaptation studies in health professions education. Design: A national MSK shoulder and knee curriculum was adapted for San Francisco VA PC trainees, which included a small-group workshop and workplace learning within a newly-created MSK clinic. Effectiveness was evaluated by assessments of trainee confidence in exam and injection skills (via 5-point Likert scale) and faculty-observed performance of knee and shoulder exams (reported as percent of maximum possible score). Feasibility was evaluated by determining acceptability of the program to PC trainees (via 5-point Likert scale) and ability to implement the curriculum using local resources. Results: 52 trainees completed the training during a 2-year period. Trainees’ confidence in MSK exam skills improved from 3.3 to 4.5 for shoulder, and from 3.5 to 4.6 for knee. Confidence performing joint injections improved from 2.6 to 4.2 (shoulder) and 2.5 to 4.5 (knee) (p < 0.001 for all). Observed performance improved markedly – from 50% to 92% for shoulder, and 57% to 90% for knee. Feasibility was evident in high acceptability (5.0 for MSK clinic, and 4.9 for workshops), and successful and sustained implementation. Conclusions: Adapting an established MSK curriculum to a new context was effective and feasible. This may serve as a more efficient model for improving trainee education than de novo curriculum design at individual sites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:08:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c58317fa2d7843a5a19c4cfe82e57665 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1087-2981 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:08:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medical Education Online |
| spelling | doaj.art-c58317fa2d7843a5a19c4cfe82e576652022-12-21T21:21:31ZengTaylor & Francis GroupMedical Education Online1087-29812020-01-0125110.1080/10872981.2020.17604661760466Implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context: a study of effectiveness and feasibilityMeg Pearson0Andrea M. Barker1Michael J. Battistone2Stephen Bent3Krista Odden4Bridget O’Brien5University of CaliforniaSalt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical CenterSalt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical CenterUniversity of CaliforniaSan Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care SystemUniversity of CaliforniaBackground: Musculoskeletal (MSK) problems are common, yet many primary care (PC) providers feel inadequately trained to manage these conditions. Previous studies describe successful MSK educational innovations at single sites, but none have reported on subsequent attempts to replicate or adapt these innovations to new contexts. This article presents a study of a national Veterans Affairs MSK training program modified to fit an existing PC educational program. Objectives: (1) To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of an adapted MSK curriculum in a new context. (2) To provide a model for adaptation studies in health professions education. Design: A national MSK shoulder and knee curriculum was adapted for San Francisco VA PC trainees, which included a small-group workshop and workplace learning within a newly-created MSK clinic. Effectiveness was evaluated by assessments of trainee confidence in exam and injection skills (via 5-point Likert scale) and faculty-observed performance of knee and shoulder exams (reported as percent of maximum possible score). Feasibility was evaluated by determining acceptability of the program to PC trainees (via 5-point Likert scale) and ability to implement the curriculum using local resources. Results: 52 trainees completed the training during a 2-year period. Trainees’ confidence in MSK exam skills improved from 3.3 to 4.5 for shoulder, and from 3.5 to 4.6 for knee. Confidence performing joint injections improved from 2.6 to 4.2 (shoulder) and 2.5 to 4.5 (knee) (p < 0.001 for all). Observed performance improved markedly – from 50% to 92% for shoulder, and 57% to 90% for knee. Feasibility was evident in high acceptability (5.0 for MSK clinic, and 4.9 for workshops), and successful and sustained implementation. Conclusions: Adapting an established MSK curriculum to a new context was effective and feasible. This may serve as a more efficient model for improving trainee education than de novo curriculum design at individual sites.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2020.1760466musculoskeletalprimary care educationshoulder and knee examcurriculum evaluationgraduate medical education |
| spellingShingle | Meg Pearson Andrea M. Barker Michael J. Battistone Stephen Bent Krista Odden Bridget O’Brien Implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context: a study of effectiveness and feasibility Medical Education Online musculoskeletal primary care education shoulder and knee exam curriculum evaluation graduate medical education |
| title | Implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context: a study of effectiveness and feasibility |
| title_full | Implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context: a study of effectiveness and feasibility |
| title_fullStr | Implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context: a study of effectiveness and feasibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context: a study of effectiveness and feasibility |
| title_short | Implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context: a study of effectiveness and feasibility |
| title_sort | implementing an established musculoskeletal educational curriculum in a new context a study of effectiveness and feasibility |
| topic | musculoskeletal primary care education shoulder and knee exam curriculum evaluation graduate medical education |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2020.1760466 |
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