Keywords: e-learning, rural healthcare, primary healthcare, remote and distance education, computer aided education
Background:
Primary healthcare professionals in rural and/or coastal areas require diverse and unique skills, knowledge and attitudes to ensure safe, effective and sustainable primary healthcare delivery. This can involve providing rural-specific health and urgent care, working in a resource-poor healthcare environment or dealing with an increasingly rurality located ageing population with multi-morbidity. EURIPA is a representative network organisation addressing the health and well-being needs of rural, remote and costal communities as well as the professional needs of those serving them across Europe. The oral presentation will see a ‘coming together’ of rural and coastal primary healthcare professionals and academics across Europe during the EURIPA conference to brainstorm and connect on how the continuous professional development needs of rural practitioners could be better addressed through evidence-based, rurally focussed, accessible computer-assisted learning.
Aim of the study:
The presentation aims to harness collective expertise and creativity to generate ideas for e-learning initiatives tailored to the unique needs of rural and coastal primary healthcare professionals.
Methodology:
The authors from various parts in Europa with a special interest in e-learning will share their experiences to stimulate others to (online) share their ideas for e-learning initiatives tailored to the unique needs of rural and coastal primary healthcare professionals.
Results:
The presenters will explore topics and methodology for e-learning particular to rural primary care which are currently not covered by mainstream CPD providers. Aspects like content, accessibility, technology and platforms, and accreditation related to e-learning targeted at the specific needs and realities of rural and coastal primary care settings will be presented and shard among the attendees.
Conclusions:
Rural and coastal family doctors have specific learning needs to enable their continuous professional development which partially can be addressed using e-learning. Shared experiences and insights will form the basis of further collaboration and development of e-learning for rural and coastal primary healthcare professionals. Consensus themes will be sough and recommended to the relevant committees of the RCGP and EURIPA.
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