Project OPUS: Development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource-limited settings.
<h4>Introduction</h4>Pain is a very frequent symptom that is reported by patients when they present to health professionals but remains undertreated or untreated, particularly in low-resource settings including Nigeria. Lack of training in pain management remains the most significant obs...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2020-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243573 |
| _version_ | 1819032164544544768 |
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| author | Tonia C Onyeka Nneka Iloanusi Eve Namisango Justus U Onu Kehinde S Okunade Alhassan Datti Mohammed Muktar A Gadanya Abubakar U Nagoma Samuel Ojiakor Chukwudi Ilo Okey Okuzu Chinelo Oduche Ngozi Ugwu Matthew J Allsop |
| author_facet | Tonia C Onyeka Nneka Iloanusi Eve Namisango Justus U Onu Kehinde S Okunade Alhassan Datti Mohammed Muktar A Gadanya Abubakar U Nagoma Samuel Ojiakor Chukwudi Ilo Okey Okuzu Chinelo Oduche Ngozi Ugwu Matthew J Allsop |
| author_sort | Tonia C Onyeka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Introduction</h4>Pain is a very frequent symptom that is reported by patients when they present to health professionals but remains undertreated or untreated, particularly in low-resource settings including Nigeria. Lack of training in pain management remains the most significant obstacle to pain treatment alongside an inadequate emphasis on pain education in undergraduate medical curricula, negatively impacting on subsequent care of patients. This study aimed to determine the effect of a 12-week structured e-Learning course on the knowledge of pain management among Nigerian undergraduate medical students.<h4>Methods</h4>Prospective, multisite, pre-post study conducted across five medical colleges in Nigeria. Structured modules covering aspects of pain management were delivered on an e-Learning platform. Pre- and post-test self-assessments were carried out in the 12-week duration of the study. User experience questionnaires and qualitative interviews were conducted via instant messaging to evaluate user experiences of the platform. User experience data was analysed using the UEQ Data Analysis Tool and Framework Analysis.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 216 of 659 eligible students completed all sections of the e-Learning course. Participant mean age was 23.52 years, with a slight female predominance (55.3%). Across all participants, an increase in median pre- and post-test scores occurred, from 40 to 60 (Z = 11.3, p<0.001, effect size = 1.3), suggestive of increased knowledge acquisition relating to pain management. Participants suggested e-Learning is a valuable approach to delivering pain education alongside identifying factors to address in future iterations.<h4>Conclusion</h4>e-Learning approaches to pain management education can enhance traditional learning methods and may increase students' knowledge. Future iterations of e-Learning approaches will need to consider facilitating the download of data and content for the platform to increase user uptake and engagement. The platform was piloted as an optional adjunct to existing curricula. Future efforts to advocate and support integration of e-Learning for pain education should be two-fold; both to include pain education in the curricula of medical colleges across Nigeria and the use of e-Learning approaches to enhance teaching where feasible. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:57:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dab624e466874475b3348e3f5e51b64c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:57:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-dab624e466874475b3348e3f5e51b64c2022-12-21T19:12:17ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-011512e024357310.1371/journal.pone.0243573Project OPUS: Development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource-limited settings.Tonia C OnyekaNneka IloanusiEve NamisangoJustus U OnuKehinde S OkunadeAlhassan Datti MohammedMuktar A GadanyaAbubakar U NagomaSamuel OjiakorChukwudi IloOkey OkuzuChinelo OducheNgozi UgwuMatthew J Allsop<h4>Introduction</h4>Pain is a very frequent symptom that is reported by patients when they present to health professionals but remains undertreated or untreated, particularly in low-resource settings including Nigeria. Lack of training in pain management remains the most significant obstacle to pain treatment alongside an inadequate emphasis on pain education in undergraduate medical curricula, negatively impacting on subsequent care of patients. This study aimed to determine the effect of a 12-week structured e-Learning course on the knowledge of pain management among Nigerian undergraduate medical students.<h4>Methods</h4>Prospective, multisite, pre-post study conducted across five medical colleges in Nigeria. Structured modules covering aspects of pain management were delivered on an e-Learning platform. Pre- and post-test self-assessments were carried out in the 12-week duration of the study. User experience questionnaires and qualitative interviews were conducted via instant messaging to evaluate user experiences of the platform. User experience data was analysed using the UEQ Data Analysis Tool and Framework Analysis.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 216 of 659 eligible students completed all sections of the e-Learning course. Participant mean age was 23.52 years, with a slight female predominance (55.3%). Across all participants, an increase in median pre- and post-test scores occurred, from 40 to 60 (Z = 11.3, p<0.001, effect size = 1.3), suggestive of increased knowledge acquisition relating to pain management. Participants suggested e-Learning is a valuable approach to delivering pain education alongside identifying factors to address in future iterations.<h4>Conclusion</h4>e-Learning approaches to pain management education can enhance traditional learning methods and may increase students' knowledge. Future iterations of e-Learning approaches will need to consider facilitating the download of data and content for the platform to increase user uptake and engagement. The platform was piloted as an optional adjunct to existing curricula. Future efforts to advocate and support integration of e-Learning for pain education should be two-fold; both to include pain education in the curricula of medical colleges across Nigeria and the use of e-Learning approaches to enhance teaching where feasible.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243573 |
| spellingShingle | Tonia C Onyeka Nneka Iloanusi Eve Namisango Justus U Onu Kehinde S Okunade Alhassan Datti Mohammed Muktar A Gadanya Abubakar U Nagoma Samuel Ojiakor Chukwudi Ilo Okey Okuzu Chinelo Oduche Ngozi Ugwu Matthew J Allsop Project OPUS: Development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource-limited settings. PLoS ONE |
| title | Project OPUS: Development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource-limited settings. |
| title_full | Project OPUS: Development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource-limited settings. |
| title_fullStr | Project OPUS: Development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource-limited settings. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Project OPUS: Development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource-limited settings. |
| title_short | Project OPUS: Development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource-limited settings. |
| title_sort | project opus development and evaluation of an electronic platform for pain management education of medical undergraduates in resource limited settings |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243573 |
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