"MEDC's Learning Space" - A Step-by-step Learning Program at Gifu University to Help Leaders Grow / 医学教育

Over the past 20 years, the Center for Medical Education Development Center, Gifu University has been working on training medical educators across the country. The Center offers a wide variety of programs to meet participants’ various needs and levels, targeting medical educators and administrative staff in various fields such as dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. This paper introduces the “Medical Education Starter Kit,” “Fellowship Program,” and “Master’s Course of Health Professions Education” among the programs. The objectives, target participants, and features of each program are outlined, including future prospects.

Towards developing high-fidelity simulated learning environment training modules in audiology

Introduction: This discussion paper reviews and synthesises the literature on simulated learning environment (SLE) from allied health sciences, medical and nursing in general and audiology specifically. The focus of the paper is on discussing the use of high-fidelity (HF) SLE and describing the challenges for developing a HF SLE for clinical audiology training. Methods: Through the review of the literature, this paper discusses seven questions, (i) What is SLE? (ii) What are the types of SLEs? (iii) How is SLE classified? (iv) What is HF SLE? (v) What types of SLEs are available in audiology and their level of fidelity? (vi) What are the components needed for developing HF SLE? (vii) What are the possible types of HF SLEs that are suitable for audiology training? Publications were identified by structured searches from three major databases PubMed, Web of Knowledge and PsychInfo and from the reference lists of relevant articles. The authors discussed and mapped the levels of fidelity of SLE audiology training modules from the literature and the learning domains involved in the clinical audiology courses. Results: The discussion paper has highlighted that most of the existing SLE audiology training modules consist of either low- or medium-fidelity types of simulators. Those components needed to achieve a HF SLE for audiology training are also highlighted. Conclusion: Overall, this review recommends that the combined approach of different levels and types of SLE could be used to obtain a HF SLE training module in audiology training.

Diseño de curso básico para la alfabetización informacional de profesores / Design of a basic course for information literacy aimed at professors

Introducción: el docente universitario requiere del dominio de las tecnologías para el acceso y uso de la información que le posibilite solucionar los retos del proceso de generación de conocimientos científicos. Objetivo: el propósito de este trabajo es describir la estrategia aplicada en el diseño de un curso de posgrado básico para mejorar los conocimientos y habilidades en la búsqueda de información de los profesores de la Facultad de Estomatología. Métodos: para la formulación del programa de aprendizaje y los objetivos se revisó la Metodología para el desarrollo y aplicación del Programa de Alfabetización Informacional en las bibliotecas y centros de información en ciencias de la salud, se tomó en consideración la experiencia del claustro docente de la institución y los resultados de un diagnóstico previo del nivel de conocimientos y necesidades de aprendizaje. Resultados: se elaboró un curso semipresencial de una duración de 40 h, se distribuyeron los contenidos por temas, objetivos y resultados de aprendizaje. Se diseñó el sistema de evaluación y se mencionan los beneficios esperados. Conclusiones: el diseño del curso tiene en cuenta: las competencias que se pretenden desarrollar, el diagnóstico del nivel de conocimientos de los profesores y sus necesidades de aprendizaje, así como la experiencia de otros centros en el diseño e impartición de estos cursos, además, concibe la evaluación de los impactos del curso, de manera que pueda verificarse su contribución a la alfabetización informacional de los profesores y su influencia en los estudiantes de pregrado y posgrado, en un futuro inmediato

Introduction: The university professor should master technologies for access and use of information that enable him/her to meet the challenges of the process of generation of the scientific knowledge. Objective: The purpose of this research was to describe the strategy applied in the design of a basic postgraduate course to improve knowledge and skills in information search of the School of Dentistry professors Methods: For the drawing up of the learning program and the objectives, there was reviewed Methodology for the development and implementation of the literacy information program in libraries and information centers in the health sciences, taking into account the experience of professors and the results of a previous diagnosis of the levels of knowledge and of learning needs. Results: A 40h blended learning course was devised, the contents of which was distributed into topics, objectives and learning outcomes. The evaluation system and the expected benefits were explained. Conclusions: The design of the information literacy course takes into account the competences to be developed, the diagnosis of the level of knowledge of the professors and their learning needs, together with the experiences of other centers in designing and delivering these courses, so that the contribution to the information literacy of professors and the influence on undergraduate and graduate students can be monitored in the near future

Survey on the Status of Using an Internet-Based Pharmacy Educational Program / 医薬品情報学

<b>Objective: </b>The Hyogo Hospital Pharmaceutical Society has been conducting an original pharmacy postgraduate education program, “lifelong learning program (to nurture pharmacy specialists)”, since 2002 using the Internet.  To understand the status of using this program, this study employed a questionnaire survey involving all registered members.<br><b>Methods: </b>Subjects were all members (1,870) of the society.  Questionnaires were distributed and collected by mail.<br><b>Results: </b>Only 20.1% of the members had experience of using the program, and the frequency of using it was less than once per 6-12 months in 60% of the members.  Their level of awareness concerning the acquisition of credits for lifelong learning was 36.9%.  The program category they wished to take was an infection-related program in 26.1% of the members, which was the highest.<br><b>Conclusion: </b>As reasons for only a small number of members using the program, the following are considered: loss of user’s ID and password required to login, and lack of awareness concerning the acquisition of credits for lifelong learning offered by the Japanese Society of Hospital Pharmacists.  As future issues, we must encourage members to obtain a new password and be proactively involved in preparing new program categories that the members wish to take, in order to promote the continuous use of the program.

A blended learning program providing core competency in clinical research / 医学教育

  In Japan, few health care professionals have a basic understanding（core competency）of the design of clinical research and statistical analysis. We developed a blended distance–learning program comprising face–to–face lectures with e–learning for busy health care professionals who work in the clinical settings to achieve core competency in clinical research. The purpose of this study was to examine the educational effects of this program.<br>1）Four months after the end of the program, 64％ of the participants had started to conduct clinical research.<br>2）This program may increase the number of research colleagues that can discuss clinical research.<br>3）This program could enhance the confidence（self–efficacy）of health care professionals in clinical research.

The Development of a Multimedia Interactive Learning (MIL) Program in Diabetes Care for Health Care Professionals in Northeastern Thailand.

Objective: This paper reports the development of a multimedia interactive learning (MIL) program in diabetes care for health care professionals in northeastern Thailand. It aims to be a supplementary tool for health care professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills in diabetes treatment. Methods: The program was developed via software called “Authorware Professional 7.1Ò”. Additionally, audio and video clips were implemented into the program as part of the multimedia interactive functions. The program covers different aspects of diabetes care including; basic knowledge of diabetes, available treatments (e.g., oral medications, insulin, non-medication treatments), patient monitoring (e.g., diet, exercise, blood glucose check up), case studies (e.g., patient cases), and assessments (e.g., multiple choice questions). Moreover, the insulin injection techniques were demonstrated via video clips. Interestingly, the program itself will be running via a mouse-clicking with automatic audio sounds. After the completion of the program, an attitude survey towards a MIL program was conducted next. Results: The overall results were positively favorable. Some changes were made into the program based on the recommendations. A further evaluation of the effectiveness of the program with the health care professionals needs to be conducted via a well designed study. More surveys regarding the attitudes toward the program will be continually performed. Conclusion: a multimedia interactive learning (MIL) program was completely developed. The usefulness of the program in diabetes care management via health care professionals is still needed. Further evaluations of attitudes toward to the program need to be done.