E‐learning/online education in transfusion medicine: A cross‐sectional international survey

Abstract

Objectives: This survey aims to assess the scope of transfusion e-learning courses in blood establishments and transfusion services internationally.Background: E-learning/online education is increasingly used in the education of medical professionals. There is limited published data on the use of e-learning for transfusion medicine.Material and Methods: An International survey was designed and distributed to all members of the International Society of Blood Transfusion to assess utilisation of e-learning in their institutions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the results.Results: A total of 177 respondents participated, 68 of which had e-learning modules in their institutions. Approximately two-thirds of the courses were developed inhouse (66%), and 63% are available to learners from outside the host institutions. In one-third of institutions, these courses were established during the COVID-19 pandemic, while 15% had used e-learning courses for more than 10 years.The courses target different audiences and topics ranging from blood donation to hemovigilance. The most common audiences were physicians (71%), laboratory scientists/technologists (69%) and transfusion practitioners (63%). Formal assessment of learning outcomes is used in 70% of the programs. Conclusions:The survey demonstrates the widespread use of e-learning courses in transfusion education, with a substantial proportion being developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apheresis medicine education during the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…A recent cross-sectional survey conducted by international practitioners in Transfusion Medicine reported on the impact of e-learning on Transfusion Medicine education, in the setting of the pandemic. 13 E-learning courses related to AM were used for all learner categories queried, with approximately one-third having topics covering AM for physicians. There have been numerous publications reporting on the effects of the pandemic on education, including medical education.…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first formal assessment of the impact of the pandemic on changes to the curriculum in AM education in the United States. A recent cross‐sectional survey conducted by international practitioners in Transfusion Medicine reported on the impact of e‐learning on Transfusion Medicine education, in the setting of the pandemic 13 . E‐learning courses related to AM were used for all learner categories queried, with approximately one‐third having topics covering AM for physicians.…”

International Forum on Transfusion Education for Healthcare Professionals Who Administer Blood to Patients in Hospitals and Health Services: Summary

“…The emergence of the COVID‐19 pandemic has demonstrated the usefulness of this method in medical education [11]. A recent survey confirmed widespread use of e‐learning courses in transfusion education, with a proportion of these having been developed since the pandemic [12].…”

“…The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the usefulness of this method in medical education [11]. A recent survey confirmed widespread use of e-learning courses in transfusion education, with a proportion of these having been developed since the pandemic [12]. This International Forum (IF) explores different approaches of transfusion education provided for healthcare professionals who administer blood and blood components in hospitals and health services worldwide.…”

Transfusion Camp Rwanda: A prospective feasibility study evaluating the delivery of Transfusion Camp to a multidisciplinary group of postgraduate medical trainees in Rwanda

“…The Global Health 2030 commission lists access to blood as essential for all surgical and nonoperative patients and includes a safe and affordable blood supply in the top 10 needs for the provision of safe surgical and anesthesia care 1 . The African Society of Blood Transfusion (AfSBT), whose mandate is to provide standards and guidelines for stepwise accreditation of blood transfusion programs in Africa, 2,3 has previously commented that there may be fewer than 100 physicians per country per year in Africa receiving transfusion medicine education 4 . While remote or digital learning courses and platforms are available in many parts of the world, 5 there remains a lack of online and in‐person transfusion medicine courses for trainees in African countries.…”