Bridging the Health Data Management Skills Gap with Online Learning

The evolving landscape of healthcare, driven by the surge in digital technology and data-driven decision-making, demands a new skill set among medical professionals. However, traditional medical education often lacks comprehensive training in managing health-related data, creating notable skills gaps. Particularly for Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), challenges such as data privacy concerns and inadequate infrastructure further complicate data management efforts.

A Imaginative Approach to Education

Addressing this skills gap, a comprehensive online modular course provides foundational skills for capturing, storing, and sharing health data. This course leverages the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) instructional design model, aiming to fill the gap professionals experience in health data literacy.

Steps to Course Development

• Analyze: Conducting a global needs assessment workshop, involving health professionals from various sectors, identified key training gaps informing curriculum development.
• Design: With insights gathered, a collaborative team developed the course with modules that align with the desired learning outcomes and instructional strategies.
• Develop: Engaging a diverse group of experts, the course generated instructional materials, case studies, and exercises.
• Implement: The course was launched online, piloted first in face-to-face settings, and adapted for digital delivery.
• Evaluate: Employing Kirkpatrick’s model for training evaluation to assess the course’s relevance and impact.

Impact and Reach

From December 2020 to April 2024, the course attracted participation from 6,384 individuals across 90 countries. Interestingly, 32% hailed from Africa, indicating robust engagement from traditionally underserved communities. Informal evaluations highlighted a high relevance score of 96.6% among participants and an 88.3% intention to apply the skills learned.

Key Course Modules

• Introduction to Data Management
• Data Quality
• Data Repositories
• Ethics of Data Sharing
• Data Governance
• Costing for Data Management

Evaluations and Insights

Early feedback gathered via surveys and a series of pilot programs indicated that learners found significant professional benefits, given the course’s free access and its relevance to their career growth. The step-wise evaluation method ensured the training materials robustly adhered to developmental needs, enhancing data management literacy.

Overcoming Challenges

The course addresses widespread challenges inherent in data sharing and management, especially in LMICs, where data stewardship is constrained by issues like broad consent complexities and limited infrastructure. This free-to-access course aims to empower professionals in these settings, enabling them to partake in global efforts to manage and share health data responsibly.

Ongoing Challenges

• Lack of trust and infrastructure in low-resource settings
• Concerns over data being used in non-beneficial ways for original researchers
• Insufficient policy awareness among researchers

The Road Ahead

While appreciative of the course’s impact, ongoing improvements will consider diversifying delivery methods to engage a broader audience. Prospects like video-based learning and webinars will be explored. Additionally, translating content into multiple languages will enhance accessibility. Continuous feedback will direct refinement, maintaining the course’s efficacy and relevance.

Future Directions

• Introduce video and interactive elements to boost learner engagement
• Expand language availability to broaden reach
• Offer more advanced modules tailored to specific professional needs

Conclusion

This online self-guided course transcends traditional barriers in educational access, proving to be a viable tool for closing skills gaps in health data management. Through accessible and structurally sound education, healthcare professionals can effectively navigate the challenges posed by digital advancements in healthcare.

By addressing both practical and ethical considerations in data management, the course promotes equitable contributions to global health data initiatives. It stands as a critical resource, advocating for improved knowledge-sharing practices among health and research professionals.

Source: https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-024-06405-y