Incorporating Telemedicine in Rheumatology Fellowship Training Programs: Needs Assessment, Curricular Intervention, and Evaluation
Objective To increase the confidence of rheumatology fellows in training (FITs) in delivering virtual care (VC) and prepare them for independent practice, we developed educational materials addressing gaps in their skills. Methods We identified gaps in telemedicine skills based on FIT performance in...
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Published in | Arthritis care & research (2010) Vol. 75; no. 12; pp. 2428 - 2434 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Boston, USA
Wiley Periodicals, Inc
01.12.2023
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Objective
To increase the confidence of rheumatology fellows in training (FITs) in delivering virtual care (VC) and prepare them for independent practice, we developed educational materials addressing gaps in their skills.
Methods
We identified gaps in telemedicine skills based on FIT performance in a virtual rheumatology objective structured clinical examination (vROSCE) station on VC delivery using video teleconference technology and survey (survey 1) responses. We created educational materials including videos of “mediocre” and “excellent” VC examples, discussion/reflection questions, and a document summarizing key practices. We measured change in the confidence levels of FITs for delivering VC with a post‐intervention survey (survey 2).
Results
Thirty‐seven FITs (19 first‐year, 18 second‐ plus third‐year fellows) from 7 rheumatology fellowship training programs participated in a vROSCE and demonstrated gaps in skills mapping to several Rheumatology Telehealth Competency domains. Confidence levels of FITs improved significantly from survey 1 to survey 2 for 22 of 34 (65%) questions. All participating FITs found the educational materials helpful for learning and reflecting on their own VC practice; 18 FITs (64%) qualified usefulness as “moderately” or “a lot.” Through surveying, 17 FITs (61%) reported implementing skills from the instructional videos into VC visits.
Conclusion
Continually assessing our learners’ needs and creating educational materials addressing gaps in training are requisite. Using a vROSCE station, needs assessments, and targeted learning with videos and discussion‐guidance materials enhanced the confidence level of FITs in VC delivery. It is imperative to incorporate VC delivery into fellowship training program curricula to ensure breadth in skills, attitudes, and knowledge of new entrants into the rheumatology workforce. |
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Bibliography: | Supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation (Clinician Scholar Educator Award to Drs. Bolster, Kolfenbach, and Zickuhr). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acr.25165 . Author disclosures are available at ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 2151-464X 2151-4658 2151-4658 |
DOI: | 10.1002/acr.25165 |