title: The importance of setting and evaluating standards of telemedicine training.
abstract: The importance of appropriate training in the use of videoconferencing equipment for clinical purposes is often underestimated when telemedicine projects are established. We developed a user training programme which was delivered via videoconferencing to a group of 130 nurses. Training was delivered on a one-to-one basis. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate user satisfaction and the effectiveness of training. One hundred and two fully completed questionnaires were returned (a 79% response rate). High levels of satisfaction were obtained but the level of user competence reached 100% only when training was supported by a training manual and at least weekly practice. Before establishing a telemedicine service, the following steps appear to be important: identify the required training competencies; deliver a 'hands on' training programme based on the required training competencies; back up the training programme with an instruction booklet; ensure that trainees have at least weekly practice; measure the level of user competence.
authors.affiliation: Telemedicine Laboratory, Remote Health Care Unit, Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. e.m.brebner@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brebner
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Brebner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruddick-Bracken
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wootton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012015:Reference Standards; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000592:standards*