International Partnerships in Health Education: Adapting E-Learning Models for Conflict-Affected Myanmar.

BACKGROUND

In the wake of Myanmar's 2021 military coup, the University of Parma, in partnership with Myanmar and Brazilian institutions, developed an asynchronous e-learning program to sustain healthcare education amid severe disruptions. The program aimed to address urgent training needs in emergency medicine, public health management, and mental health, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals.

METHODS

An educational needs assessment involving 298 surveys and 10 interviews identified training priorities. Based on these findings, a four-module e-learning course was created, covering basic life support, trauma care, pediatric emergencies, and psychological assistance. The course utilized prerecorded high-fidelity telesimulations with multilingual support to ensure accessibility. Evaluation included participant satisfaction using the MSSE questionnaire and knowledge acquisition through post-module quizzes.

RESULTS

Over 750 students participated, with significant knowledge acquisition observed-60% scored 8 or higher across all modules. The MSSE questionnaire, completed by 152 students, revealed high satisfaction, with 88% agreeing that the course enhanced clinical reasoning, decision-making, and self-reflection Conclusions: This program demonstrates the value of international partnerships and e-learning in sustaining medical education during crises. High student engagement and strong learning outcomes affirm its efficacy. Future iterations will aim to improve completion rates, refine feedback mechanisms, and expand accessibility. This scalable model offers a blueprint for addressing healthcare training needs in conflict-affected and resource-limited settings, contributing to global health resilience and the achievement of Universal Health Coverage.