Modularity and Blended Methodology on Master Education for Donation and Transplantation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Transplantation Science
• Organ Donation Management

Background:

• The Master of Donation and Transplantation program at the University of Barcelona has been offered since 2004.
• A modular structure was established in 2011 to enhance the program's delivery and evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze participant numbers, profiles, and module scores from 2011 onwards.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of improvement measures implemented since the modular structure establishment.
• To identify trends and areas for program enhancement in donation and transplantation education.

Main Methods:

• Data collection on participant demographics (gender, nationality, background) and academic performance across four modules (Donation, Transplantation, Management, Tissue Banking).
• Analysis of participant numbers over recent academic years.
• Statistical evaluation of module-specific scores and overall performance.

Main Results:

• 127 professionals trained since 2011, with a recent decline in class sizes.
• Predominantly female participants (63.13% from 2011-2016) with diverse academic backgrounds (average of 4 per edition), predominantly medicine (58.27%).
• International participation from 37 countries, notably the United States (45.6%) and Europe (40.9%).
• The Transplantation module achieved the highest average score (8.22/10), while the Donation module had the lowest (7.45/10).

Conclusions:

• The program's international and heterogeneous nature is a key strength.
• Future improvements should focus on flexible module selection and expanding online learning options.
• Addressing the lower scores in the Donation module may be necessary to optimize learning outcomes.