Multidisciplinary health care professional education in diabetes management: evaluation of courses and the development of web-based learning

Introduction There is currently debate centred on whether there
should be nationally accredited diabetes courses for health care
professionals (HCP). The National Service Framework (NSF) for
Diabetes will detail a mandatory need for all HCPs involved in
diabetes care to regularly receive education.
Aims To establish and evaluate multidisciplinary diabetes educational
programmes delivered via traditional classroom and webbased
methods.
Methods A foundation and advanced diabetes course is offered to
HCPÕs in the North-west of the UK. The philosophy of both courses
is based on the impending NSF and a psychosocial approach to diabetes
care. Evaluation focuses on learning outcomes, satisfaction
and clinical practice impact.
Results Four cohorts from the foundation course and one cohort
from the advanced course have been evaluated. Overall achievement
of desirable learning outcomes was high, reported by students
who received the traditional classroom based courses.
Discussion An interactive web site is currently being developed to
deliver a distance learning foundation course in diabetes management.
Novel evaluation techniques are being considered together
with audit of clinical practice impact. Diabetes education for professionals
based on new approaches it is argued, enhances the central
goal of patient intervention in terms of self-management behaviour.