Creating self-learning opportunities for healthcare professionals can be difficult, as you have to consider the needs, goals and behaviours of the audience you’re trying to educate. That’s why the team at CTC has invested in creating engaging self-learning opportunities for healthcare professionals (HCPs) that disseminate knowledge in a meaningful way. Here are five best practices for creating successful self-learning opportunities for healthcare professionals.
1. Integrate real-life clinical cases or simulations that professionals can quickly access and apply
Case studies are among the easiest ways to help HCPs learn and better understand a topic. They are specific and they offer examples of unique medical occurrences and the treatments involved. Case studies eliminate theory from the equation for HCPs, as they are based in facts and real-life scenarios. This certainty — XYZ worked for however many patients — can help HCPs find effective treatments that they can apply to their own cases. It also gives a more practical application for any learnings in the self-learning opportunity.
2. Make it digestible
HCPs undergo a lot of schooling, but that doesn’t mean they love to study — especially not while they’re working full time. They might not want to sit down for an eight-hour course, and even if they did, hours and hours of lectures and work is not the ideal approach to self-learning. Instead, a key for a successful self-learning opportunity is digestibility. Keep the lessons and activities short. This will go a long way in an individual’s retention of the materials, improving the odds of the course being a success. Further, it’s a good idea to include more than just readings. If you can, come up with quizzes and other interactive pieces that will engage the HCPs and encourage them to focus from start to finish.
3. Find an accessible way to disseminate information
You have a self-learning opportunity in mind, but where do you go from there? You need to find a way to spread that information, to get your course and materials in front of HCPs. There are many ways you can do this, including Vivomap, CTC’s very own digital education portal. Vivomap allows continuous learning via online courses that are easy for HCPs to log in and take. They can go at their own pace, educating themselves while still working full time.
4. Commit to updating your courses or materials when new research is released
A self-learning opportunity is most impactful and educational when it is up to date. With the ever-changing healthcare landscape, it is your job to ensure that your course and materials are current and in line with any new research and developments. This will maintain the value of your self-learning opportunities, as HCPs will know that they are getting the latest information with every course. To fall behind would be to lose that value and relevance, and that’s the last thing you want.
5. Offer a reward to HCPs who complete the course/self-learning opportunity
Some HCPs will take on your course simply for the sake of learning and updating their knowledge, but you’ll attract far more interest if you offer a reward or add value to your self-learning opportunities. If possible, you can offer certifications and accreditations that go along with your courses. A less official but still-impactful addition can be access to mentors through these courses in the form of an interactive discussion board. You want to catch the eye of HCPs so they choose your course over another one, and providing value and rewards is a great way to do so.
To learn more about how to create self-learning opportunities for HCPs, or how CTC can help your team, visit our website!
