Poster Presentation Victorian Integrated Cancer Service Conference 2015

Appetite for eLearning (#92)

Lauren Muir 1 , Amber Kelaart 2 , Karen Donald 2
  1. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC
A recent point prevalence study completed across 15 Victorian Health Services identified malnutrition as highly prevalent in the inpatient and ambulatory oncology settings. A key recommendation from this study was to develop a resource to increase awareness, understanding and appropriate management of malnutrition amongst multidisciplinary cancer clinicians. E-learning resources were the selected medium, with the goal to optimise accessibility, reach and impact.  E-learning presents benefits in cost effectiveness; enhanced audience engagement and response; consistency and currency of information; accessibility and flexibility in time, pace and location; monitoring capacity; and opportunity for interactive learning. Focussed, discipline specific cancer malnutrition e-learning packages were developed for medical, allied health, nursing and general practice domains. Key theories in adult learning were considered given the diverse target audience. Kolb’s Experiential Learning theory was consulted and a range of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic information modalities utilised to enhance educational impact on cancer clinicians. Videos, images, maps and charts were utilised throughout to engage visual learners. Auditory learners were provided with consistent written and verbal information presented by a narrator, clinicians and patients as well as a range of written information as factsheets, education resources, clinical tools and a comprehensive literature review. The resource includes a range of interactive activities throughout to engage those who learn kinaesthetically. This e-learning package is an example of an innovative, interactive, evidence-based health education package. A number of pedagogic strategies were employed to meet the learning needs of a diverse audience to ultimately enhance patient care and outcomes.