Online continuing medical education in Mongolia: needs assessment

Abstract

Purpose: Due to the shortage in the healthcare workforce, insufficient qualifications, a lack of infrastructure and limited resources in Mongolia, it is not always possible for healthcare workers in rural areas who wish to attend continuous training and retraining courses to do so. However, in order to provide high-quality care, the demand for distance learning and the upgrading of knowledge and practice of many medical topics (especially related to morbidity and mortality) are necessary for the rural population. This study aimed to assess the needs of e-learning medical education, of graduates in Mongolia.Methods: A cross-sectional research design was implemented. We collected data from 1,221 healthcare professionals (nursing professionals, physicians, midwives, and feldshers) who were randomly selected from 69 government hospitals in Mongolia. Data were collected using self-assessment questionnaires which captured the needs assessment in a survey for online continuous medical education in Mongolia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis statistical test.Results: Ninety percent of the respondents reported that they plan on attending online continuous medical education with the most preferred specialty area being emergency medicine. Results using the Kruskal-Wallis statistical technique suggested the preferred specialty area, educational content, appropriate time schedule, available devices, and tools were statistically significant and were different between the nursing professionals, physicians, midwives, and feldshers (p<0.05).Conclusion: Findings provide important evidence for the implementation of measures and strategies which can assist healthcare professionals in low and middle-income areas/countries to constructively address their need for enhanced knowledge and practice through distance learning.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Nursing Education – Nursing Students as Members of the Academic Community in New Educational Reality

“…It is worth noting that in a previous study in Mongolia, most participants emphasized that the use of technological media in the learning process could provide students with high quality knowledge, not just flexibility in the time and place of its acquisition. In addition, distance learning was reported to offer a wealth of interdisciplinary areas based on their interests, with the majority of participants (91%) indicating an intention to pursue medical education online [17]. However, a recent study in four Latin American countries (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico) highlighted the particular difficulty of implementing modern educational environments enriched with innovative educational practices adapted to the needs of modern society.…”