Designing and testing a solution to fill ART knowledge gaps at primary healthcare level: WhatsApp-based microlearning.
A pragmatic, mixed-methods, parallel-group cluster-randomised study design to design, test and evaluate the effect of WhatsApp group-based HIV training on nurses’ and community health workers’ knowledge in predominantly rural clinics in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The secondary aims were to assess uptake, acceptability, and feasibility of the intervention; and to explore and describe the changes in prescribing, comparing the intervention group to the control group.
The study aimed to collect data at all four levels of Kirkpatrick’s Training evaluation – results, behaviour, learning and reaction (Kirkpatrick and Kirkpatrick, 2016). Data was collected using online questionnaires at baseline, immediately after the training intervention and three months after; data from the WhatsApp group interactions; focus groups; and retrospective folder reviews.
The training was conducted ‘live’ in WhatsApp groups: 10–15-minute, case-based microlearning lessons within the routine lunch break. Learning points were based on the National HIV guidelines.
Funding
South African Medical Research Council through its Division of Research Capacity Development under the Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme (BC's salary).
Educational grant from Aspen covered the research costs of the study.
History
Department/Unit
Division of Clinical Pharmacology Department of Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape TownUsage metrics
Categories
- Medicine, nursing and health curriculum and pedagogy
- Continuing and community education
- Professional education and training
- Digital health
- Primary health care
- Rural and remote health services
- Community and primary care
- Nursing workforce
- Public health not elsewhere classified
- Other health sciences not elsewhere classified
