Foundations in global e-health: a global capacity building course

Area of Science:

• Global e-Health
• Health Informatics
• Medical Education

Background:

• The healthcare sector requires professionals skilled in information and communication technology (ICT).
• Existing e-health knowledge varies significantly among providers, managers, and ICT professionals.
• A standardized foundational understanding of e-health is crucial for effective collaboration and initiative development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a capacity-building initiative called "Foundations in Global e-Health."
• To establish a standardized baseline awareness and understanding of e-health principles.
• To enhance the ability of healthcare professionals to collaboratively communicate and develop e-health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• An online, self-paced, modular course utilizing adult education principles.
• The curriculum comprises 12 modules, with a workload of 20-24 hours per module.
• Modules 2-12 require one month for completion, focusing on evidence-based content.

Main Results:

• The initiative aims to equip graduates with a solid understanding of e-health.
• Graduates will be better prepared to communicate and collaborate on e-health projects.
• The program fosters independent development and assessment of e-health initiatives.

Conclusions:

• The "Foundations in Global e-Health" course provides essential capacity building for the healthcare sector.
• Standardized e-health education is key to improving global health informatics.
• The initiative supports the development and implementation of effective e-health solutions in diverse settings.