RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Problem-based learning (PBL) and distance education (DE) have been combined as educational approaches in higher education. This combination has been called distributed PBL. In health professions education it has been called online PBL (OPBL). However, more research on the effectiveness of OPBL is needed. The present study aims at evaluating the effectiveness of an OPBL curriculum for training family medical doctors in Brazil. METHODS: We used a pretest-posttest control group design in this study. Thirty family physician participants were non-randomly assigned to the experimental group and the same number to the control group. Three instruments for collecting data were used: A multiple choice question knowledge test, an Objective Structural Clinical Examination (OSCE) for assessing the ability to apply the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) and a test based on clinical cases for assessing the ability to make an adequate differential diagnosis of dementia. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and univariate tests were conducted to see if the difference between the two groups was significant. The effect size was measured by Cohen's d. RESULTS: A total of 50 participants completed the study. The results show significant effects of the course on participants' knowledge and diagnostic skills. DISCUSSION: The results may indicate that innovative pedagogical approaches such as PBL can be effective in an online environment in a low-resources context, with the advantages of DE approach.
Assuntos
Instrução por Computador , Currículo , Demência/diagnóstico , Educação Médica Continuada/organização & administração , Medicina de Família e Comunidade/educação , Internet , Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas , Idoso , Brasil , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Educação a Distância , Educação Médica , Avaliação Educacional , Feminino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
Este artigo descreve os principais achados de um inquérito realizado no Estado do Ceará, Brasil, com o objetivo de avaliar a aceitabilidade de um curso baseado em Educação à Distância entre os profissionais que atuam no Programa Saúde da Família - uma nova estratégia para prover Atenção Primária à Saúde para a população brasileira. Foram enviados 255 questionários aos potenciais sujeitos, com uma taxa de resposta de 81,9 por cento. Os achados mostraram que, em geral, os respondentes têm percepções e atitudes positivas em relação à EAD e estão motivados em participar num curso baseado nessa estratégia. Propõe-se uma lista de recomendações para ajudar os planejadores do curso.
This paper reports the main findings of a cross-sectional survey in the State of Ceará, Brazil, aiming to assess the acceptability of a distance education (DE) course among health professionals working in the Family Health Program, a new strategy to provide primary care to the Brazilian population. A total of 255 questionnaires were sent to potential subjects, with a response rate of 81.9 percent. Most respondents expressed positive perceptions and attitudes towards DE and were motivated to participate in a DE course. A list of recommendations was produced to help DE course planners.