Exploring perspectives of type 2 diabetes prevention program coaches and training delivery staff on coach e-learning training: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background E-learning can be an effective and efficient mode of training healthcare practitioners. E-learning training for diabetes prevention program coaches was designed and developed with input from end users. Insight from those who deliver the training and coaches who have taken the training can provide critical feedback for further refinement of the e-learning training. The purpose of this study was to understand diabetes prevention coaches’ and training delivery staffs’ perspectives of the coach e-learning training. Methods A pragmatic paradigm guided the methodology for this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with diabetes prevention program coaches (n = 8) and diabetes prevention program training staff (n = 3). Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using template analysis. Themes and subthemes were separately constructed from coach and staff data. Results There were seven themes constructed from the coach data: training design, “I didn’t know what to expect from the training”, technology usability, learning, coaches’ backgrounds shaped their training experience, support, and coaches valued the training. Two themes were constructed from the staff interviews: streamlining the training delivery, and ensuring coaches meet the diabetes prevention program standard. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of exploring perspectives of both those going through and delivering e-learning training to refine content and processes. Qualitatively evaluating the implementation of e-learning training will lead to a more acceptable, efficient, and effective e-learning training. Coaches and staff emphasized the benefits of having high-quality online components, that the brief training promoted gains in knowledge and improvements in skills, and that e-learning training refinements will lead to further satisfaction and effectiveness. Results can be used to inform modifications to the coach e-learning training for this diabetes prevention program and to inform other healthcare practitioner e-learning trainings.