School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
BMC Med Educ. 2022 Apr 7;22(1):253. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03310-0.
Computer-based education is gaining popularity in healthcare professional development education due to ease of distribution and flexibility. However, there are concerns regarding user engagement. This pilot study aims to: 1) assess the feasibility and acceptability of a social reward and the corresponding study design; and 2) to provide preliminary data on the impact of social reward on user engagement.
A mixed method study combing a four-month pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT), surveys and interviews. The RCT was conducted using a computer-based education platform. Participants in the intervention group had access to a social reward feature, where they earned one meal for donation when completing a quiz with a passing score. Participants in the control group did not have access to this feature. Feasibility and acceptability of the social reward were assessed using surveys and telephone interviews. Feasibility of the RCT was assessed by participant recruitment and retention. User engagement was assessed by number of quizzes and modules completed.
A total of 30 pharmacy professionals were recruited with 15 users in each arm. Participants reported high acceptability of the intervention. The total number of quizzes completed by the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control group (n = 267 quizzes Vs. n = 97 quizzes; p-value 0.023).
The study demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based trial with pharmacy professionals and the social reward intervention. It also shows that the social reward can improve user engagement. A future definitive RCT will explore the sustainability of the intervention.
由于易于分发和灵活，基于计算机的教育在医疗保健专业人员发展教育中越来越受欢迎。但是，人们对用户参与度存在担忧。这项试点研究旨在：1）评估社交奖励的可行性和可接受性及其相应的研究设计；2）提供社交奖励对用户参与度影响的初步数据。
这是一项混合方法研究，结合了为期四个月的试点随机对照试验（RCT）、调查和访谈。RCT 使用基于计算机的教育平台进行。干预组的参与者可以访问社交奖励功能，在完成测验并获得及格分数时，他们可以获得一次捐赠餐。对照组的参与者无法访问此功能。通过调查和电话访谈评估社交奖励的可行性和可接受性。通过参与者招募和保留评估 RCT 的可行性。通过完成的测验和模块数量评估用户参与度。
共招募了 30 名药剂师专业人员，每组 15 名参与者。参与者报告对干预措施的接受度很高。干预组完成的测验总数明显高于对照组（n=267 次测验与 n=97 次测验；p 值为 0.023）。
该研究表明，在药剂师专业人员中进行基于网络的试验和社交奖励干预是可行且可接受的。它还表明，社交奖励可以提高用户参与度。未来的确定性 RCT 将探讨干预措施的可持续性。
