The effect of pre-service e-learning on knowledge of health care providers in terms of family health cares

Objectiv (s):

 The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pre-service e-learning on health care providers’, knowledge in terms of family health cares.

This was a pre- and post-test design study. The framework for developing the course was based on the stages of the General Educational Design Model (ADDIE). First, the content was designed and uploaded in Learning Management System (LMS). Then, using the census sampling method, all female health care providers who had started working as health care provider in the health care facilities affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in a period of 6 months in 2021-2022 were included in the study. First, their knowledge of the course contents was measured. They received training upon entering the service electronically. Finally, their knowledge and skills were assessed by an exam. The level of their satisfaction and skills after participating in the course was also assessed. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software.

In all 73 trainee included in the study. The results of the study showed that the mean total score of health care providers' knowledge, after participating in the designed e-learning course significantly increased compared to before participating in the course (p = 0.01). The findings showed that the highest satisfaction score of the participants was related to the suitability of the evaluation with the content presented in the course (86% of the participants reported good to very good level). The lowest satisfaction was related to support in technical issues (47% of the participants was reported good to very good level). The most acquired skill was related to the ability to assess a child health status (100% of the participants reported good to very good level) and the least acquired skill was related to the ability to identify the health status of pregnant mother (45% of the participants reported good to very good level).

This study showed that participating in pre-service e-learning training may increase the knowledge of female health care providers in various components of family health care.