Ms. Stark: Senior Extension Associate, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Dr. Garner: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX; Dr. Garg: Nutrition Specialist, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Headquarters, New York, NY; and Dr. Bégin: Senior Advisor, Nutrition, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Headquarters, New York, NY.
J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2021 Jan 1;41(1):63-69. doi: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000334.
Continuing professional development (CPD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can build capacity of health professionals in infant and young child feeding (IYCF). However, travel to in-person workshops can be time-consuming and expensive. Thus, we developed a free online course to provide training in IYCF to health professionals globally; the course received overwhelmingly high numbers of registrations. Our aim was to conduct a program evaluation to assess course satisfaction, learning, and application using surveys administered postcourse and 9 months later. Response rates were 99% (n = 835) and 55% (n = 312), respectively. Among those who only partially completed the course, reasons for noncompletion were assessed (response rate 29%, n = 72). Data within a 1-year period were analyzed. Respondents worked in multiple settings and organizations worldwide. Nearly all (99%) reported postcourse that they learned "a lot" or "some" from all topics, and over 70% applied "a lot" of or "some" information 9 months later. In open-ended questions, respondents reported improved knowledge, skills, and competence to conduct their work; they also desired more similar training courses. Many who did not complete the course reported "not enough time" as the main reason (74%), and most (94%) wanted to continue it. The positive response to the course suggests there is an unmet need for CPD for health professionals in LMICs. Our evaluation found that online training was feasible, acceptable, and increased professionals' knowledge and application of IYCF concepts in nutrition programming. Increased use of online CPD offers the potential for global capacity-building in other health-related topics.
继续教育在中低收入国家（LMICs）可以建立婴儿和幼儿喂养（IYCF）卫生专业人员的能力。然而，前往面对面的研讨会可能既费时又昂贵。因此，我们开发了一个免费的在线课程，为全球卫生专业人员提供 IYCF 培训；该课程的注册人数非常多。我们的目的是进行方案评估，使用课程结束后和 9 个月后进行的调查来评估课程满意度、学习和应用。响应率分别为 99%（n=835）和 55%（n=312）。在仅部分完成课程的人中，评估了未完成课程的原因（响应率 29%，n=72）。在一年内分析了数据。受访者在全球多个环境和组织中工作。几乎所有人（99%）报告说，他们在所有主题上都“学到了很多”或“学到了一些”，超过 70%的人在 9 个月后“大量”或“部分”应用了信息。在开放式问题中，受访者报告说，他们的知识、技能和工作能力有所提高；他们还希望有更多类似的培训课程。许多未完成课程的人表示，“没有足够的时间”是主要原因（74%），大多数人（94%）希望继续学习。课程的积极反应表明，中低收入国家的卫生专业人员对继续教育有未满足的需求。我们的评估发现，在线培训是可行的、可接受的，并且提高了专业人员在营养规划中对 IYCF 概念的知识和应用。更多地使用在线继续教育有潜力在其他与健康相关的主题中进行全球能力建设。
