van Doormaal M1, Post M2, Meerhoff G1
1Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF), Amersfoort, Netherlands, 2Society for Exercise Therapy Cesar and Mensendieck (VvOCM), Utrecht, Netherlands
Background: The Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF) develops guidelines since 1998. The implementation of these guidelines consists of dissemination and communication by publication of news items and articles on digital platforms and in journals, and by organizing seminars for physical therapists. However, guidelines are moderately applicated and adopted in clinical physical therapy practice. To enhance clinical implementation in physical therapy practice, a new approachable training method for physical therapists is needed.
Purpose: To develop a platform for e-learning to increase knowledge about guideline content and its applicability in daily physical therapy practice.
Methods: The KNGF guideline Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee formed the basis for the development of the first e-learning module. The platform for e-learning was developed in cooperation with an experienced online training provider. An educationalist and an osteoarthritis expert, who was also part of the particular guideline project group, provided the content. After content development, a demo version was tested twice by a group of physical therapists, and adjustments were made based on their feedback. After the official launch of the e-learning in July 2018, the module was monitored intensively for 3 months. During the monitoring phase, physical therapists who completed the e-learning were asked to indicate their level of satisfaction with the module.
Results: The e-learning consists of information about the condition of interest, recommendations concerning the diagnostics and therapeutic interventions, and is supported by images and videos. The content is combined with questions to check the level of knowledge and application of theory. The e-learning ends with a mandatory test consisting of 12 questions. To complete the e-leaning successfully, physical therapists should pass the test with 70%.
Seven weeks after the official launch, 323 physical therapists completed the e-learning, with a user satisfaction of 86%. Positive feedback was reported about the ease of following the course from home and the applicable content for daily practice. Negative feedback was reported about the difficulty of the final test.
Conclusion(s): The platform was received very well by physical therapists and will be further developed taken into account the received feedback. In November 2018, the second e-learning module about rheumathoid arthritis will be launched, presumably followed by a module about COPD in 2019.
Implications: From now on, for every new published KNGF guideline, an e-learning module will be developed. To facilitate further application of guidelines in daily practice, more publicity among physical therapists about the e-learning is necessary. Therefore, an extensive communication plan is being developed. Better application of guidelines will lead to more uniform strategies for effective interventions among physical therapists and better results in patient care.
Keywords: Guideline, Implementation, e-learning
Funding acknowledgements: The development of the platform for e-learning is funded by de KNGF.
Purpose: To develop a platform for e-learning to increase knowledge about guideline content and its applicability in daily physical therapy practice.
Methods: The KNGF guideline Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee formed the basis for the development of the first e-learning module. The platform for e-learning was developed in cooperation with an experienced online training provider. An educationalist and an osteoarthritis expert, who was also part of the particular guideline project group, provided the content. After content development, a demo version was tested twice by a group of physical therapists, and adjustments were made based on their feedback. After the official launch of the e-learning in July 2018, the module was monitored intensively for 3 months. During the monitoring phase, physical therapists who completed the e-learning were asked to indicate their level of satisfaction with the module.
Results: The e-learning consists of information about the condition of interest, recommendations concerning the diagnostics and therapeutic interventions, and is supported by images and videos. The content is combined with questions to check the level of knowledge and application of theory. The e-learning ends with a mandatory test consisting of 12 questions. To complete the e-leaning successfully, physical therapists should pass the test with 70%.
Seven weeks after the official launch, 323 physical therapists completed the e-learning, with a user satisfaction of 86%. Positive feedback was reported about the ease of following the course from home and the applicable content for daily practice. Negative feedback was reported about the difficulty of the final test.
Conclusion(s): The platform was received very well by physical therapists and will be further developed taken into account the received feedback. In November 2018, the second e-learning module about rheumathoid arthritis will be launched, presumably followed by a module about COPD in 2019.
Implications: From now on, for every new published KNGF guideline, an e-learning module will be developed. To facilitate further application of guidelines in daily practice, more publicity among physical therapists about the e-learning is necessary. Therefore, an extensive communication plan is being developed. Better application of guidelines will lead to more uniform strategies for effective interventions among physical therapists and better results in patient care.
Keywords: Guideline, Implementation, e-learning
Funding acknowledgements: The development of the platform for e-learning is funded by de KNGF.
Topic: Education: methods of teaching & learning
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: n.a. for an educational platform
Ethics committee: n.a. for an educational platform
Reason not required: n.a. for an educational platform
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
