Online interprofessional education related to chronic illness for health professionals: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

This scoping review focuses on identifying the quantity and quality of research evidence available with regard to online interprofessional education related to chronic disease management. Recent advances have seen the emergence of information communication technology and digital health solutions that may improve monitoring of and self-management of chronic disease. With the growing chronic disease burden globally, and the advancement of information communication technology, digital health solutions may improve chronic disease monitoring and self-management. However, health professionals are slow to utilize this technology in chronic disease management. Online education has the potential to enhance utilization of digital health solutions across interprofessional healthcare teams. This scoping review focuses on online interprofessional education and eLearning strategies used to promote engagement and achievement of learning outcomes between health care professionals in chronic disease management. A systematic search of the literature yielded 3112 papers; 15 studies were included in the review following an independent screening process. The review found very limited research for online interprofessional education related to chronic disease so it is not feasible to comment or draw conclusions in relation to its impact on interprofessional learning, student engagement in education or its impact in practice, services or health outcomes. Research methodology and online eLearning strategies varied across studies, highlighting the need for further rigorous studies that include consistency in online interprofessional education strategies, evaluations and study methods.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional education
• online education
• chronic illness
• scoping review

Declaration of interest

The Authors report no conflicts of interest.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1. Digital health is an umbrella term encompassing eHealth (including mHealth) and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, genomics and ‘big data’. It is defined as the use of information and communications technology in support of health and health-related fields (WHO guideline: recommendations on digital interventions for health system strengthening, 2019).

Additional information

Funding

This systematic scoping review was funded as part of a research grant from iHeed Health Training Limited.

Notes on contributors

Catherine McCabe

Catherine McCabe is a registered nurse who specialises in nursing and healthcare practice, education and research. Her research interests and expertise are in the areas of Digital Health, Acute care; Arts and Health and Systematic Reviews.

Kunal D Patel

Kunal D Patel is a medical doctor who specialises in non-communicable diseases, travel medicine and the biosciences.  He has a strong background also in ICT and Health Education.

Simon Fletcher

Simon Fletcher is a researcher at the Centre for Health and Social Care Research at St. Georges, Kingston University London. His current research interests include interprofessional collaboration and education; professional identity in adverse social conditions ethnographic research methods; systematic review and realist synthesis.

Niall Winters

Niall Winters is Professor of Education and Technology at the Department of Education, University of Oxford and a Fellow of Kellogg College. His main research interest is to design, develop and evaluate technology enhanced learning (TEL) programmes for healthcare workers in the Global South.

Greg Sheaf

Greg Sheaf joined the Library of Trinity College Dublin as an Assistant Librarian in 2005. Since then he was appointed as Web Services Librarian, editor of the Library website.

Jarlath Varley

Jarlath Varley is a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Emergency Department) and Research Fellow at the Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation, Trinity College Dublin.

Margaret McCann

Margaret McCann is a registered nurse whose interests are in chronic illness management, the use of digital health and smart technology in supporting patients/client’s education, self-management and independence.