Learning Design Strategies in MOOCs for Physicians' Training: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Online Learning Technologies

Background:

• Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are increasingly used in education, offering flexible, high-quality learning resources.
• While beneficial in medical education, the specific factors influencing MOOC effectiveness for physicians need clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review analyzing key factors of MOOCs in physician education.
• To identify effective pedagogical approaches, structural variables, and participant characteristics for MOOCs in this field.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review following PRISMA guidelines was performed.
• Literature published between 2016 and 2021, focusing on physicians and written in English, was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Key areas identified include pedagogical approaches, MOOC structure, and participant-related variables.
• Comparative analysis of MOOCs versus traditional courses was also a focus.
• Evidence on factors influencing MOOC effectiveness for physicians was synthesized.

Conclusions:

• The findings offer valuable insights for academic and healthcare organizations.
• This evidence can guide the design of more effective online training courses for physicians.