Computer skills for doctors − how to develop them

Dr. Nadežda Semjonova

Baltic Computer Academy

nadezda@bda.lv

Ph +371 7280798

Latvia

IT trainings frameworks for big users groups

• Experience gained in implementation of national scope training projects in Latvia

– Informatization of courts – Informatization of libraries

• Experience of health care professionals’ e-skills development in other countries

What makes courts and libraries informatization projects’ IT training similar to e-health training activities?

• Target trainees’ groups do not have technical background• Computer skills are very poor or do not exist at all• Training should be delivered in very short time to big groups

which are geographically dispersed• Business processes cannot be stopped or paused because of

training activities• There are specific IT applications and general applications for

word processing, spreadsheets, presentations which should be used in everyday work

• Unprofessional information management could significantly harm customer/patient

Users training in specific health care applications

• Software development (SWD) projects MUST include training’s component

• Special courseware should be designed as SWD project’s deliverable

• E-learning courses designed • Customer’s power users/consultants prepared• Training should be synchronized with solution’s

deployment => not bigger as 1 month pause between training session and solution’ s deployment

• Training should have at least 3%-5% of total project budget

Why general IT skills are importantEssential general IT skills are by definition, the basic knowledge and

skills required by doctors to ensure the safe and effective use of a IT systems

More specifically these skills include: – Communication with colleagues or patients via email and WWW forums – Search for information in Internet– Managing documents in folders and keeping them in order (delete old

ones, re-name, move,…)– Working with text documents – Participating in seminars and trainings with presentations and papers– Understanding and appropriate reaction to security and confidentiality

issues

Better IT skills and knowledge decrease the time to find patient’s information (records, notes, test results) and allow more time for professional doctors’ activities

• Health Services – UK, Sweden

• Education Ministries- Australia, Austria, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Poland.

• E-Government Plans – Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Norway.

• Ministries of Defense – UK, Sweden, Italy.

• Re-training Schemes – UK, Ireland.

• Institutes of Public Administration – Ireland, Romania

ECDL (Europe Computer Driving Licence) as skills management tool is accepted internationally at government level:

ECDL (Europe Computer Driving Licence)

• ECDL specialist

• ECDL advanced

• ECDL core (7 exams)

• ECDL introductory (equalskills, eCitizen, Latvia@pasaule)

ECDL Mission: ‘Computing Skills for Life’

Evolution of IT Technologies & Competencies

ECDL SyllabusVersion 3.0

ECDL SyllabusVersion 4.0

MOTIVATION• Currency & Relevance• Quality Improvement

* Clarity & Precision* Structure* Rigour

CONTINUITY• Evolution not Revolution• ECDL Module Structure• Consistent Literacy Message

Syllabus Version 4.0Value & Relevance• Continuity: Builds on Success of ECDL Brand• Focus on Current IT Skills • Relevant Competencies• Clearer and more Precise Wording (for)

* Candidate* Trainer* Test Provider

• Improved Structure (for)* Precision in testing* Courseware

• More rigorously designed (for)

* Test Validation* Test Improvement

E-Kids

EqualSkills

E-Citizen

Latvia@Pasaule

Basic Concepts of IT

Using Computer & Managing Files

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

Database

Presentation

Information & Communication

Advanced WP

Advanced Spreadsheets

Advanced Database

Advanced Presentation

ECDL Certified Training Professional

ECDL CAD

ECDL Web Publisher**

ECDL IT Administrator**

ECDL PD**

ECDL ProgrammECDL Programm

IntroductoryIntroductory CoreCore AdvancedAdvanced SpecialistSpecialist

ECDL training levels

ECDL introductory level

• Standard: Latvia@pasaule/equal skills/ecitizen• Prerequisites – there are no prerequisites • Duration – 8 - 16 hours• No certification exams• After completion of training attendee is able to

– operate keyboard– input simple text– navigate through desktop– understand security issues– use Internet search engines – use popular e-services (like e-bank, news portals,…)– start training in specific e-health applications

• Costs: about 25 Ls (1 day) - 50 Ls (2 days) per person

Latvia @pasaule: basic computer& internet skills for everyone

270 medicine workers were trained in Valmiera and Daugavpils

Comments of participants– Very good courses. Help to develop

skills. It was the real pleasure and a lot of positive emotions.

– A lot of useful information. I would like to have more lessons.

– Course is very interesting, very good delivery. Training materials are delivered in easy, simple and interesting way. Thanks!

– The highest mark! No comments. I would like to have more such interesting and useful courses.

– Thanks a lot. I got practical skill – that was most important!

Latvia@Pasaule project, 2006, Daugavpils, medicine workers’ training

Source of information: LIKTA

Post-course evaluationQuestionnaire Evaluation

(1-10)

I should have taken this course 9.71

I would recommend this course to my peers 9.83

The training room and facility was conducive to learning 9.38

The student materials are useful “after-course” resource 9.64

The Instructor competently covered the subject matter 9.93

The Instructor was assistive and helpful 9.88

The instructor encouraged questions 9.90

Course was organized good 9.63

Latvia@Pasaule project, 2006, Daugavpils, medicine workers’ training

Source of information: LIKTA

ECDL core skills level

• Basic concepts of IT

• Using the computer and managing files

• Word processing

• Spreadsheets

• Database

• Presentations

• Information and Communication

ECDL core• Standard: ECDL core• Prerequisites – introductory ECDL skills • Duration – about 80 hours split in several modules within 6-12 months time

interval• 7 certification exams• After completion of training attendee is able to

– Communicate via emails, send attached documents, save attached documents– Find information in Internet and save it for further use – Create simple text documents with graphics, tables and columns– Do simple calculations, use formulas and data diagrams in spreadsheets

applications– Prepare presentations with texts, pictures and diagrams– Create simple databases, input information in databases, receive reports from

databases– Answer questions about basic components of computers and their functionality,

security and ergonomics • Costs: about 300 Ls per person

UK NHS Vision of IM&T ETD:• A workforce that is ‘competent enough’, hungry enough

and flexible in the use of information and communication technology.

• The workforce has the basic skills they need to engage with information and communication technology appropriate to their role (including their role in teaching and mentoring others).

• Staff involved in direct patient care are taking on new Information and Communication Technology as required and recognise that the basic skills will provide a platform on which they can continue to develop as new facilities are made available and as their roles develop

• Staff have sufficient skills to engage in learning using Information technology and intra and inter-net support.

http://www.agw-wdc.nhs.uk/pubs/imt/imt_etd_fs.pdf

UK NHS Vision of IM&T ETD:• A workforce that feels positive about how ICT is enabling them to

fulfil their roles.• Staff believe that managing information matters to our performance as

a health service• People who work with information and patient records feel positive

about their contribution to patient care• All clinical staff feel supported in their face to face contact with

patients• Staff are talking about care, not technology• Staff feel happy to enable patients to have direct access to information

and their records• The interface between primary and secondary care is functioning,

efficient and tranquil.• Patients don’t experience gaps in the flow of information about their

care.

http://www.agw-wdc.nhs.uk/pubs/imt/imt_etd_fs.pdf

Training is ongoing process

4 – Train

1 - Identify performance requirements

5 – Measure performance

3 – design learning plan

6 – Reevaluate results to meet performance requrements

2 – Pre-assess current skills

National training plan for development of essential computer skills to support

healthcare workers as a part of Latvian e-health project

Main objective:• to improve healthcare system through the coordinated approach in the training

design and delivery of essential computer skills and knowledge to healthcare workers.

Specific objectives: • To include training component in healthcare systems SW development

projects with clear guidelines for training volume and allocated budget • To identify requirements for essential computer and internet skills,

information and knowledge management skills, solid understanding of IT security issues and map these skills to specific job roles (what should know doctors, nurses, administrators,…)

• To design training program and training materials• To design training priorities • To estimate necessary resources for plan’s implementation (time table,

training providers, training administration, budget)

Thanks!

Nadezda Semjonova

nadezda@bda.lv

Ph +371 7280798