Facing the Coronavirus Pandemic: An Integrated Continuing Education Program in Taiwan

Abstract

This study aimed to identify knowledge gaps regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and develop an integrated educational program for healthcare workers. First, we designed and validated ten multiple-choice questions to identify knowledge gaps among healthcare workers. Within one month of the online test and curriculum offering, 5533 staff had completed the test, with a completion rate of 84.97%. There were 2618 healthcare workers who answered the pre-test 100% correctly. Those who did not answer the pre-test 100% correctly took multiple tests after learning through the online teaching materials. Eventually, 5214 staff passed the test (pre-test or post-test with 100% correct answers). The result showed that all staff had a low correct rate for personal protective equipment (PPE) use recommendations. The Infection Control Center conducted training sessions for hospital staff on how to wear protective clothing. Information on the selection and use of PPE for infection prevention was provided, and participants were allowed time to practice and familiarize themselves with the correct way to wear PPE. Moreover, the Department of Education and Research continued updating the online learning materials based on the most important updated peer-reviewed published articles. The attending teaching physicians helped to search, translate, and take notes on articles in the local language (traditional Chinese) for other colleagues to read easily. We expect to increase learning opportunities for healthcare workers, even during uncertain times such as the current coronavirus pandemic through (1) the hospital-wide course announcements, (2) the continuous placement of test questions and learning files on the digital learning platform, (3) the placement of journal highlights in cloud folders, and (4) the use of the digital learning platform on mobile phones accessible outside the hospital.

Personal protective equipment implementation in healthcare: A scoping review

“…Study settings were mainly hospitals. 18,20−26,28, 30,31,33,37−39,43,47−52,55,56,59−64,67,68,70,71,73,74,79,80,82−84,86−89 Methods most frequently used to collect and report data were intervention proposals, 22,25,37,39,40,47,48,54,57,59,65,66,[70][71][72]74,76,80,82,85,86,89,90 surveys, 18 −21,24,26,41,45,46,51,58,61,68,69,79,81,83 practices/actions implementation description 31,32,36,[42][43][44]49,63,78,87,88 and interviews, 23,27,28,[33][34][35]38,50,52,55,56,60,62,…”

“…35 Education was reported to reduce unnecessary PPE use and waste. 47 PPE reprocessing systems can be operated during extreme conditions 22,23,35,51,77,81 with improved implementation of PPE stock control and supply procedures. 51,52 Identification and tracking of reprocessed PPE and return to stock and entry into the HF inventory was advised.…”

“…35,44 Other useful strategies included informing HW practices by making learning materials freely available in repositories, group chats, and social media. 19,39,47,52,65…”

“…87 Implementation interventions: PPE adherence may be improved with the involvement of stakeholders to develop a culture of safety, a local IPC policy 51 and training. 30,31,80 Some strategies to increase adherence were described: PPE monitoring programmes using closed-circuit camera to support continuing educational process and to provide compliance surveillance 23,29,35,41,47,77 ; presence of an observer to help prevent breaches during donning and doffing, enable rapid adjustments, periodically inspect the PPE in the clinical area, and monitor HW well-being 19,20,34,38,50,52,53,56,64,70,77,82 ; and if possible labor safety officers to help prevent PPE breaches during patient care 75 ; cross-checking of PPE donning, working in red zone, and doffing using a buddy system 23,26,35,52,59 ; development of a quality assurance checklist for PPE selfmonitoring to identify breaches 27 ; adjustments in the donning and doffing areas, such as mirror installation, designation of step-by-step pictorial instructions, adaptations of the coverall zipper, and convenient PPE storage. 23,50,56,58…”

Experiences and Challenges of an English as a Medium of Instruction Course in Taiwan during COVID-19

“…Nonetheless, university faculties have begun integrating online instruction into face-to-face classes following COVID-19′s sporadic spread in 2020 [ 7 , 8 ], while shifting to full online learning from May 2021 continuing until the end of the semester [ 9 , 10 ]. For this reason, assessing the experiences and challenges of both teachers and students is equally important to determine the effects of these shifting modalities of learning [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”