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Home > HCAS > HCAS_PUBS > HCAS_JOURNALS > TQR Home > TQR > Vol. 24 > No. 9 (2019)

 

Abstract

Continuing education is necessary to improve the professional knowledge and skills of graduates of medical sciences, which may be implemented via e-learning. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences and viewpoints of faculty members participating in continuing education webinars. The participants consisted of 15 faculty members selected purposefully and with maximal variation regarding their sex, age, the field of specialization, academic rank, and work experience. Data were collected through semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews. Data analysis of these transcripts using a qualitative content analysis approach revealed 3 themes and 9 sub-themes. The main themes included “Moving across the boundaries of knowledge,” Virtual education challenges,” and “Motivators and facilitators.” These data suggest that the main prerequisites for holding successful and effective continuing education webinars are the existence of the necessary software and hardware infrastructures, high-speed and accessible Internet, purposeful educational design, as well as empowering, motivating, and encouraging faculty members to participate in such educational programs. The technical infrastructures and human elements remain critical in effective implementation of continuing education webinars.

Keywords

Computer-Assisted Instruction, Continuing Education, Faculty Members, Internet Learning, Qualitative Research

Author Bio(s)

F. Jafarzadeh-Kenarsari, PhD. is an Assistant Professor in Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Medical Education Research Center (MERC), Education Development Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Her areas of research include medical education, qualitative studies, and reproductive health.

K. Abouzari-Gazafroodi, MSc. is a Lecturer in Department of Midwifery, Medical Education Research Center (MERC), Education Development Center, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedical Sciences of Eastern Guilan (in the northern of Iran), Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Her areas of research include medical education, midwifery and reproductive health.

F. Zaersabet, MSc. in Nursing, Medical Education Research Center (MERC), Education Development Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Her areas of research include medical education and nursing.

All three researchers were responsible for the study conception and design. They performed the data collection and data analysis. Also, all researchers were involved in the drafting of the manuscript and making critical revisions to the paper for important intellectual content. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: kaboozari@yahoo.com.

Acknowledgements

This article is based on the results of a research project approved by the Medical Education Research Center, Center for Medical Researches and Education Development, and the Ethics Committee of Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran, under the registry code IR.GUMS.REC.1395.40. The researchers would like to express their gratitude to the deputy director of the Research and Technology Division and the director of the Center for Medical researches and Education Development. We are also thankful to the faculty members participating in the study for their sincere cooperation.

Publication Date

9-8-2019

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3985

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