Addressing the gap in health data management skills: an online self-guided course for researchers and health professionals
Abstract Background The healthcare sector is rapidly evolving with the rise of digital technology and data-driven decision-making. However, traditional medical education has yet to fully integrate training on managing health-related information, resulting in a significant skills gap among medical an...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06405-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850064514925461504 |
|---|---|
| author | Naomi Waithira Brian Mutinda Kehkashan Shah Evelyne Kestelyn Susan Bull Liam Boggs Trudie Lang Phaik Yeong Cheah |
| author_facet | Naomi Waithira Brian Mutinda Kehkashan Shah Evelyne Kestelyn Susan Bull Liam Boggs Trudie Lang Phaik Yeong Cheah |
| author_sort | Naomi Waithira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The healthcare sector is rapidly evolving with the rise of digital technology and data-driven decision-making. However, traditional medical education has yet to fully integrate training on managing health-related information, resulting in a significant skills gap among medical and research professionals. This gap is pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where data privacy concerns and inadequate infrastructure hinder efforts to utilise and share health data. Aims To address this gap, we developed an online, modular course aimed at providing foundational skills on capturing, storing and sharing health data. Methods The course was developed using the ADDIE(Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) instructional design model. A needs assessment workshop involving 25 global health proffesionals identified key training gaps which informed the curriculum’s development. A multidisciplinary team from six institutions developed the modules. The course was piloted in a face-to-face setting with 37 participants and later adapted for online delivery via the Global Health Network platform. We evaluated the course using Level 1 of Kirkpatrick’s model for training evaluation. Results Six foundational modules were developed: Introduction to Data Management, Data Quality, Data Repositories, Ethics of Data Sharing, Data Governance, and Costing for Data Management. Between December 2020 and April 2024, 6,384 individuals from 90 countries completed the course. Of these, 32% were from Africa, 15% from Asia, 16% from South/Central America and the Caribbean, and 24% from Europe. Summative evaluations, based on voluntary post-module surveys, demonstrated high relevance to participants’ learning needs (96.6%) and strong intentions to apply the skills gained (88.3%). Key motivators for enrollment included the course’s free access, relevance to professional or academic needs, and trust in the organizations and authors behind the content. Conclusions The high enrolment and broad geographical reach demonstrates the potential of online training as a cost-effective tool to equip health practitioners and researchers with data literacy skills. Future evaluations will assess its impact on participants’ knowledge, behavior, and data-sharing and reuse practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-676f746b500d4cf2a5d156c04f979ea0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-676f746b500d4cf2a5d156c04f979ea02025-08-20T02:49:17ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-11-012411810.1186/s12909-024-06405-yAddressing the gap in health data management skills: an online self-guided course for researchers and health professionalsNaomi Waithira0Brian Mutinda1Kehkashan Shah2Evelyne Kestelyn3Susan Bull4Liam Boggs5Trudie Lang6Phaik Yeong Cheah7Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of OxfordMahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityCentre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of OxfordCentre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of OxfordThe Ethox Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of OxfordCentre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of OxfordCentre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of OxfordCentre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of OxfordAbstract Background The healthcare sector is rapidly evolving with the rise of digital technology and data-driven decision-making. However, traditional medical education has yet to fully integrate training on managing health-related information, resulting in a significant skills gap among medical and research professionals. This gap is pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where data privacy concerns and inadequate infrastructure hinder efforts to utilise and share health data. Aims To address this gap, we developed an online, modular course aimed at providing foundational skills on capturing, storing and sharing health data. Methods The course was developed using the ADDIE(Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) instructional design model. A needs assessment workshop involving 25 global health proffesionals identified key training gaps which informed the curriculum’s development. A multidisciplinary team from six institutions developed the modules. The course was piloted in a face-to-face setting with 37 participants and later adapted for online delivery via the Global Health Network platform. We evaluated the course using Level 1 of Kirkpatrick’s model for training evaluation. Results Six foundational modules were developed: Introduction to Data Management, Data Quality, Data Repositories, Ethics of Data Sharing, Data Governance, and Costing for Data Management. Between December 2020 and April 2024, 6,384 individuals from 90 countries completed the course. Of these, 32% were from Africa, 15% from Asia, 16% from South/Central America and the Caribbean, and 24% from Europe. Summative evaluations, based on voluntary post-module surveys, demonstrated high relevance to participants’ learning needs (96.6%) and strong intentions to apply the skills gained (88.3%). Key motivators for enrollment included the course’s free access, relevance to professional or academic needs, and trust in the organizations and authors behind the content. Conclusions The high enrolment and broad geographical reach demonstrates the potential of online training as a cost-effective tool to equip health practitioners and researchers with data literacy skills. Future evaluations will assess its impact on participants’ knowledge, behavior, and data-sharing and reuse practices.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06405-yData managementData sharingData stewardshipE-learningADDIEKirkpatrick model |
| spellingShingle | Naomi Waithira Brian Mutinda Kehkashan Shah Evelyne Kestelyn Susan Bull Liam Boggs Trudie Lang Phaik Yeong Cheah Addressing the gap in health data management skills: an online self-guided course for researchers and health professionals BMC Medical Education Data management Data sharing Data stewardship E-learning ADDIE Kirkpatrick model |
| title | Addressing the gap in health data management skills: an online self-guided course for researchers and health professionals |
| title_full | Addressing the gap in health data management skills: an online self-guided course for researchers and health professionals |
| title_fullStr | Addressing the gap in health data management skills: an online self-guided course for researchers and health professionals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing the gap in health data management skills: an online self-guided course for researchers and health professionals |
| title_short | Addressing the gap in health data management skills: an online self-guided course for researchers and health professionals |
| title_sort | addressing the gap in health data management skills an online self guided course for researchers and health professionals |
| topic | Data management Data sharing Data stewardship E-learning ADDIE Kirkpatrick model |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06405-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT naomiwaithira addressingthegapinhealthdatamanagementskillsanonlineselfguidedcourseforresearchersandhealthprofessionals AT brianmutinda addressingthegapinhealthdatamanagementskillsanonlineselfguidedcourseforresearchersandhealthprofessionals AT kehkashanshah addressingthegapinhealthdatamanagementskillsanonlineselfguidedcourseforresearchersandhealthprofessionals AT evelynekestelyn addressingthegapinhealthdatamanagementskillsanonlineselfguidedcourseforresearchersandhealthprofessionals AT susanbull addressingthegapinhealthdatamanagementskillsanonlineselfguidedcourseforresearchersandhealthprofessionals AT liamboggs addressingthegapinhealthdatamanagementskillsanonlineselfguidedcourseforresearchersandhealthprofessionals AT trudielang addressingthegapinhealthdatamanagementskillsanonlineselfguidedcourseforresearchersandhealthprofessionals AT phaikyeongcheah addressingthegapinhealthdatamanagementskillsanonlineselfguidedcourseforresearchersandhealthprofessionals |