Session Information
Session Type: ACR Poster Session C
Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM
Background/Purpose: There is a dire need for pediatric rheumatologists in the US, as 11 states and several large cities are without these specialists. Likewise, 40% of pediatric residency programs lack pediatric rheumatology (PR). Thus pediatric residents insufficiently trained in PR may care for children with rheumatic disease. Telecommunication technology has helped close the geographic gap in delivery of health care, along with dissemination of distance learning. To address workforce shortage and bridge the knowledge gap in PR, we created a pilot PR tele-learning program sponsored by Baylor PR fellowship program for the pediatric residency at Texas Tech Univ. Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in El Paso, TX.
Methods: TTUHSC has 44 pediatric residents and the freestanding children’s hospital serves a catchment area of 2.5 mil. inhabitants (El Paso–Juárez–Las Cruces). We conducted a needs assessment by completing structured interviews with a focus group of residents and pediatric faculty. Using the needs assessment results, and the American Board of Pediatrics content outline, we designed a six lecture curriculum consisting of high priority PR conditions, presented by a senior PR fellow (B.S.). The first two lectures, including interactive musculoskeletal assessment training were conducted in person. Subsequent lectures were given live via TeamViewer®, a computer-based application that is free to use with with a personal license. TeamViewer® transmits live video and PowerPoint using widely available computer infrastructure. Residents interacted with the presenter by answering case questions and open responses via text messaging with Poll Everywhere®. Residents completed lecture evaluations after each didactic session. Members from the initial focus group provided midway feedback on program success.
Results: TeamViewer® was adequate in transmitting our tele-learning program and it was easy to use. Access to the lecture stream only required recipients to click an e-mail web link which connected the live feed automatically. Its limitation is primarily audio feed which was overcome by use of telephone connection. Mean response rate for evaluations was 74%. There was significant improvement in knowledge of all learning objectives compared to before the curriculum (Table 1). Residents indicated overall satisfaction with the PR tele-learning program (mean likert 4.8). Unintended outcomes included increase frequency of real patient consultations and greater resident interest in PR fellowship.
| TABLE 1: Perceived level of knowledge based on lecture objectives (Likert scale 1-5) | ||||
| Learning Objectives |
Before (Mean) |
After (Mean) |
p |
n |
| Diagnosis of jSLE |
2.7 |
4 |
0.002 |
7 |
| Laboratory testing for jSLE |
2.7 |
4.1 |
0.002 |
7 |
| General management of jSLE |
2.6 |
4 |
0.004 |
7 |
| When to use pGALS* |
1.7 |
4.7 |
<0.001 |
26 |
| How to perform pGALS* |
1.6 |
4.7 |
<0.001 |
26 |
| How to document pGALS* |
1.6 |
4.5 |
<0.001 |
26 |
| Clinical features of vasculitis |
2.9 |
4.3 |
<0.001 |
23 |
| Recognition and treatment of KD |
3.1 |
4.6 |
<0.001 |
23 |
| Disease course and refractory KD |
2.8 |
4.4 |
<0.001 |
23 |
| Different types of JIA* |
2.1 |
4.3 |
<0.001 |
24 |
| Limited role of labs to diagnose JIA* |
2.1 |
4.2 |
<0.001 |
24 |
| Complications of JIA* |
2.4 |
4.3 |
<0.001 |
24 |
| Primary care role for patients with JIA* |
2.1 |
4.3 |
<0.001 |
24 |
| Diagnosis of JDM |
2.1 |
4.4 |
<0.001 |
28 |
| Clinical features and complications of JDM |
2.3 |
4.5 |
<0.001 |
28 |
| Disease course and prognosis of JDM |
2.2 |
4.4 |
<0.001 |
28 |
| *Lecture given in person | ||||
Conclusion: The small PR workforce is inadequate to educate future pediatricians in many parts of the country. To help overcome this problem, we created a tele-learning program that is cost effective, satisfying to learners, generalizable to many locations and is scalable. Our tele-learning program is a novel educational intervention that enables PR divisions to reach beyond their locale and to stimualte resident interest in PR.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Shirley JB, Gutierrez F, Muscal E, Ramirez AA, Rama JA. Reaching the Masses: A Novel Approach to Pediatric Rheumatology Education Via Tele-Learning [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016; 68 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/reaching-the-masses-a-novel-approach-to-pediatric-rheumatology-education-via-tele-learning/. Accessed .« Back to 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/reaching-the-masses-a-novel-approach-to-pediatric-rheumatology-education-via-tele-learning/