Can health professionals learn qualitative evaluation methods on the World Wide Web? A case example.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Educational Technology

Background:

• The public health workforce requires robust data utilization skills.
• The Enhancing Data Utilization Skills through Information Technology (EDUSIT) project aimed to enhance these skills.
• Web-based learning offers a scalable solution for professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and analyze a web-based module on qualitative research and evaluation methods.
• To assess the impact of the module on public health professionals' knowledge, beliefs, and self-efficacy.
• To evaluate participant satisfaction and identify challenges in web-based training.

Main Methods:

• A year-long web-based course with six modules, focusing on qualitative methods.
• Module content included: overview, planning, observation, interviewing, analysis, and presentation.
• Evaluation involved assessing changes in knowledge, beliefs, self-efficacy, and skill perception.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant changes in specific knowledge or beliefs regarding qualitative methods.
• Statistically significant increase in participants' self-efficacy in using qualitative methods.
• Significant self-reported improvements in skills for qualitative data collection and analysis.

Conclusions:

• Web-based training can significantly enhance self-efficacy and perceived skills in qualitative methods for public health professionals.
• Didactic teaching, practical exercises, and team projects are valuable components of online learning.
• Time constraints for full-time professionals pose a challenge for completing extensive web-based modules.