Knowledge and utilisation of occupational asthma guidelines in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an occupational asthma learning module, which could be used both as an educational tool and to evaluate awareness and usage of clinical guidelines in primary care.


METHODS
Healthcare professionals were invited to undertake an interactive BMJ Learning module, developed from existing national occupational asthma guidelines. Participants were invited to record immediate post-module feedback, and were also sent an e-mail questionnaire six weeks later to assess the impact of the module.


RESULTS
In total 1041 healthcare professionals completed the learning module within the first six months, which was associated with significant improvements in knowledge, and predominantly positive feedback. The e-mail follow-up questionnaire demonstrated improved usage and awareness of national occupational asthma guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant barriers remain in ensuring that evidence-based occupational medicine guidelines are adopted in primary care. This project has demonstrated that e-learning offers one method of improving postgraduate medical education in this area, particularly where evidence-based guidelines have already been developed.
Barber
Chris M
CM
Centre for Workplace Health, Health and Safety Laboratory, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK. chris.barber@hsl.gov.uk
Frank
Tim
T
Walsh
Kieran
K
Burton
Clare
C
Bradshaw
Lisa
L
Fishwick
David
D
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards