Caring for People with Severe Brain Injuries: Improving Healthcare Professional Communication and Practice Through Online Learning

Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions (01/24/23) Latchem-Hastings, Julie; Latchem-Hastings, Geraldine; Kitzinger, Jenny

A recent study evaluated an interprofessional online course directed at healthcare professionals caring for patients who had prolonged disorder of consciousness from severe brain injuries. The course integrated group discussions, interviews and questionnaires. Although the COVID-19 pandemic affected staff uptake, participants were able to improve their knowledge in terms of defining and diagnosing conditions, assessing multidisciplinary team roles and managing any legal and ethical challenges. Learners also augmented their critical and reflective thinking skills, cultivated connectivity to other professionals and crafted plans to improve provision of services. "Online learning that enables healthcare professionals to engage at their own pace and also come together as an interprofessional community can provide invaluable continuing professional development [CPD] and help to enhance joined up, holistic patient care," the researchers concluded. This demands substantial investment in synchronous and asynchronous education, as well as organizational commitment to online CPD.

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