E-learning for education in primary healthcare--turning the hype into reality: a Delphi study.
OBJECTIVE
E-learning has the potential to provide effective education for general practice, but there are significant difficulties that must be overcome.


METHODS
We initiated a two-round Delphi study, aiming to identify expectations and barriers to e-learning in primary healthcare education.


METHODS
We distributed questionnaires to 60 primary care experts who are also experts in the field of e-learning. Their responses were independently analysed by two of the authors (J.G., H.C.V.) and were clustered to form 32 themes. These were fed back to the participants in a second postal questionnaire with the objective of reaching agreement or disagreement, with a cut-off of 80%.


RESULTS
The response rate was 67% (n=40) in the first and 60% (n=36) in the second round. The extent of agreement reached ranged from 8% ("e-learning is displacing practical teaching and learning") to 97% ("e-learning needs convincing didactical concepts"). Agreement was high with the themes "e-learning gets a new focus by mixed learning concepts" and "users will have a higher level of media competence 5 years from now" (94% each). There was a positive attitude to e-learning, but there was concern about the lack of orientation towards users' needs and the poor development of innovative didactical concepts. In implementing e-learning in primary care, education should be independent of financial influence from the healthcare industry in order to eliminate conflicts of interest.


CONCLUSIONS
The experts' responses show that e-learning in primary healthcare education can contribute substantially to undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education, and should therefore be evaluated in systematic studies.
Institute for General Practice, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany. jochen.gensichen@med.uni-jena.de
Jochen
J
Gensichen
Horst Christian
HC
Vollmar
Andreas
A
Sönnichsen
Uta-Maria
UM
Waldmann
John
J
Sandars
D000328:Adult; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires