Effectiveness of electronic learning for continuing interprofessional education on behavior change of healthcare professionals: A scoping review

ABSTRACT

Electronic learning (e-learning) for continuing professional education (CPE) in healthcare has been shown to improve learners’ satisfaction, attitudes, and performance. E-learning outcomes for continuing interprofessional education (CIPE) are less known, and the features of electronic CIPE programs that promote behavior change are unclear. In this scoping review, we sought to identify the program features and areas of behavior change in healthcare professionals using e-learning for CIPE. PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library databases, and Google/Google Scholar were searched for all English articles published in the last 10 years. From the 32 studies included in our review, eight types of e-learning methods were identified. More than 35,542 healthcare professionals of different professions had participated in the programs. Thirty studies demonstrated positive behavior changes, with four areas of behavior changes identified. The most common area of change was in patient care practices. Five common program features facilitating behavior change were also identified. Most successful programs provided interactive and authentic learning experiences, which promoted direct clinical application. Future researche should include monitoring of sustained behavior changes at work, linked to patient outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Distance learning
• electronic learning
• continuing interprofessional education
• interprofessional learning
• behavior change

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Karen K. Zhang

Kailin Karen Zhang is a Principal Orthoptist at the Singapore National Eye Centre, where she has specialized in the non-surgical management of eye movement and vision disorders in both children and adults for the past 14 years. She has researched and published on eye alignment disorders (specifically, intermittent exotropia), and has a keen interest in online Orthoptic curriculum development for various healthcare professions. She graduated with a Bachelor of Orthoptics and Ophthalmic Sciences (Honours) from the La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Science in Health Professions Education from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, USA.

Anne W. Thompson

Anne W. Thompson, PT, EdD is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Health Professions Education Program, School of Healthcare Leadership, at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. Throughout her clinical and academic career, she has promoted shared learning, teamwork, and patient-focused care. She has presented at multiple international IPE conferences, served on the journal abstract editorial board for the Journal of Interprofessional Care, and promoted international interprofessional experiences for students and faculty.