Effectiveness of Electronic Learning Courses on Neurologist Knowledge of Epilepsy Classification: A Study Based on the Kirkpatrick Model Publisher



Mirmoghtadaie Z¹ ; Mohammadi M² ; Tavasoli AR^{2, 3} ; Badv RS² ; Ashrafi MR² ; Zamani GR² ; Hosseinpour S⁴ ; Omrani A⁵ Show Affiliations
Source: Jundishapur Journal of Chronic Disease Care Published:2024

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, it is generally accepted that focusing on in-service training can lead to organizational progress and improvements in the training process. Objectives: Considering the high prevalence of epilepsy in children and the use of new technologies in education, the purpose of this study was to conduct an electronic educational course on epilepsy classification guidelines based on the guidelines of pediatric neurologists and to evaluate the effectiveness of the course using the Kirkpatrick model. Methods: This study was conducted in 2020. The study population comprised pediatric neurologists from universities of medical sciences throughout the country. Inclusion criteria included participation in the course during the semester, availability, and willingness to participate in the study. Participants entered the study according to their personal preference and provided informed consent, and those who were absent from two or more sessions related to these topics were excluded from the study. The study involved participation in the e-learning course on epilepsy classification according to the guidelines (ILAE 2017). The sample size was calculated using Cochran's formula, which resulted in 74 participants. Nineteen of them did not meet the inclusion criteria, and a total of 55 physicians were included in the study. Reaction and learning were the levels considered to evaluate the efficacy of the Kirkpatrick model. To analyze the data, paired t-test and linear regression were used at a significance level of 0.05, using SPSS version 22 statistical software. Results: The results showed that most participants were satisfied with the e-course. The mean learning and behavior level score was 27.51. The findings indicated that the e-learning of epilepsy classification guidelines according to the guidelines (ILAE 2017) improved the performance of pediatric neurologists (P-value ˂ 0.001). Conclusions: The results indicate that e-learning guidelines for the classification of epilepsy according to the guidelines (ILAE 2017) can be an effective tool in improving the clinical performance of pediatric neurologists. Applying newer methods such as the Kirkpatrick model would be an effective approach in other fields of health as well. It is recommended to use up-to-date and efficient models, such as the Kirkpatrick model, in the field of health sciences. © 2024, Mirmoghtadaie et al.