title: An evaluative case study of online learning for healthcare professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This evaluation study assessed the pedagogical and instructional design (e-pedagogy) effectiveness of online continuing professional education (CPE) courses offered by a large Australian CPE provider.
  
  
  METHODS
  A naturalistic theory approach and a multilevel evaluation were used to examine the impact of web-based learning on more than 300 healthcare professionals. Participant satisfaction, learning achievement, self-reported practice performance change, and e-pedagogical courseware characteristics were assessed by various qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings revealed that learning online was an effective means for increasing CPE knowledge (p < .05) and improving self-reported practice performance change (p < .05). Courses containing a clinical tool resulted in an increased self-reported practice performance change over courses that did not (Zobs = 3.757).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Online CPE offers a convenient format for healthcare professionals from educationally and geographically diverse populations to update their knowledge and view best practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Faculty of Education, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Darren.Pullen@utas.edu.au
authors.forename: Darren L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Pullen
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003200:Computer User Training; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires