RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Faculty development programs are crucial for promoting continuous learning, enhancing teaching effectiveness, and encouraging professional growth among medical educators. Problem-based learning was introduced as a teaching strategy in our Faculty of Medicine in 2007. Thereafter, several rounds of a faculty development program were conducted to help teachers recognize their role as facilitators and assess areas for improvement. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods study with a sample of 284 third-year medical students answering a questionnaire and 21 faculty members participating in focus groups. A validated 13-item questionnaire was used to investigate the students' evaluation of their tutors' performance in problem-based learning. Three sessions were then conducted with faculty members involved in problem-based learning to gain in-depth insights into their experiences and perspectives. RESULTS: The mean performance ranking for tutors awarded by the students was above halfway. There was a significant positive correlation between tutors' performance ranking and all five of the learning approaches examined herein: constructive/active learning, self-directed learning, contextual learning, collaborative learning, and intra-personal behavior (p < 0.05). The data from the focus groups were analyzed under five broad themes: tutors' insights into their strengths and weaknesses, challenges in conducting problem-based learning, tutors' ways of preparing for problem-based learning, feedback, and suggestions for improving problem-based learning workshops. CONCLUSIONS: This study recommends improvements and future directions for advanced program evaluation. Faculty development programs can be tailored to effectively address students and faculty members' goals and needs, which can benefit the teaching and learning process and foster a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
Asunto(s)
Docentes Médicos , Grupos Focales , Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas , Desarrollo de Personal , Estudiantes de Medicina , Humanos , Estudiantes de Medicina/psicología , Arabia Saudita , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Educación de Pregrado en Medicina , Femenino , MasculinoRESUMEN
Introduction Bronchial asthma has grown in epidemic proportions, and it is one of the most chronic diseases that affect many societies in the world. As managing asthma is complex, new management approaches have been developed, such as the written asthma action plan. This study aims to assign a baseline for the patients' knowledge about asthma and its management and to assess their need for an asthma action plan. Then, to identify the effect of the written asthma action plan on the following parameters: exacerbations rate, and the frequency of using rescue mediations. Also, to compare the quality of life, functional limitations, and the level of patients' self-confidence in treating their asthma before and after using the written asthma action plan. Method This study is a cross-sectional and interventional mixed-method study design. It was conducted at the National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) asthma clinics between October 2017 to November 2017. Asthmatic patients who were above five years old and had no other lung comorbidities were evaluated before and after following the written asthma action plan by using three previously validated and published surveys that consist of five sections: demography, knowledge, quality of life, exacerbation rate, and overall evaluation. Results This study enrolled 58% (209) males and 42% (154) females. Regarding asthma medication knowledge and attack management, 62.3% of the patients do not adhere to their maintenance medications when they do not have asthma symptoms. Also, only 24.9% were very confident about knowing how to use their inhalers. For the impact of asthma on patients' quality of life and the functional limitations, we found that 42.1% of patients were absent from school or work more than once a week because of asthma. While 61.0% of patients did not attend social events twice or less per week because of their asthma. The third section of the survey was about asthma exacerbation related events during the past year, we found that 39.0% of patients had one or more asthma attacks, 41.6% visited the emergency room (ER) once or more during the past year, and 28.1% of patients have been hospitalized because of their asthma. Finally, the section about patients' evaluation of their asthma and their confidence about managing their condition, we found that around 20% of patients had poor or no control over their condition. In the second phase of the study, which includes 60 subjects, we found that following the action plan helps in increasing the patients' knowledge about their condition, and improves their quality of life and functional limitations as they learned how to cope with their symptoms. In addition, it has increased the confidence level of patients about controlling their asthma and decreasing the asthma exacerbation related events rates. Overall, the patients' evaluation of their asthma has been increased significantly (p-value= 0.023). Conclusion Most of the asthmatic patients had insufficient knowledge and/or poor adherence to their treatment which impacted their quality of life. The written asthma action plan was effective in increasing the patients' knowledge about their condition, improving their quality of life and functional limitations, and increasing their confidence level about controlling their asthma.