International Journal of COPD (Apr 2022)
Evaluation of a Digital COPD Education Program for Healthcare Professionals in Long-Term Care – A Mixed Methods Study
Abstract
André Nyberg,1,* Sara Lundell,1,* Ulla-Maija Pesola,1 Åsa Audulv,2 Karin Wadell1,3 1Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; 2Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; 3Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Division of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: André Nyberg, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden, Tel +46 90 786 66 39, Email [email protected]: Lack of routines and competence among healthcare professionals have been reported as barriers to COPD management in long-term care. Online education could be used as a strategy to make COPD education more accessible.Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate a digital COPD education program for healthcare professionals in long-term care regarding feasibility, knowledge and working procedures.Methods: A randomized controlled feasibility trial with a convergent mixed methods design was conducted. Two municipalities in Sweden were randomized to intervention (n=20) or control (n=17). The intervention was a digital COPD education program accessible for three months. Data was collected through questionnaires on COPD-specific knowledge, conceptual knowledge, feasibility and usage of the COPD Web platform. Repeated individual interviews using a semi-structured interview guide was also performed. Quantitative and qualitative findings were merged using a mixed methods design.Results: The digital COPD education program appears feasible based on the expressed satisfaction of the healthcare workers and their reports that it supported them in their work. Across questionnaires, objective COPD-specific knowledge increased by 14 to 16 percentage points in the intervention group compared to 0 to 6 percentage points in the control group (p=0.001). The objective increase in COPD-specific knowledge was also captured in the interviews, where a perceived increase in knowledge led to increased security and focus on COPD management. Few changes in working procedures were expressed, but participants felt that attention was raised regarding COPD and the importance of preventive healthcare services. In addition, increased knowledge of healthcare services provided by other involved professions was emphasized, leading to discussions with other professions in relation to COPD management.Conclusion: A digital COPD education program is feasible and can increase the COPD-specific knowledge of healthcare professionals in long-term care, leading to increased focus on COPD-related issues. More comprehensive measures, including organizational changes, might be needed to change working procedures.Keywords: e-health, feasibility, work task, qualitative longitudinal research, questionnaire
