Impact of eLearning course on nurses' professional competence in seclusion and restraint practices: 9-month follow-up results of a randomized controlled study (ISRCTN32869544).
eLearning may facilitate continuing vocational education, but data on the long-term effects of an eLearning course are lacking. The aim of this study was to explore the long-term impact of an eLearning course entitled ePsychNurse.Net on psychiatric nurses' professional competence in practicing seclusion and restraint and on their job satisfaction and general self-efficacy at 9-month follow-up. In a randomized controlled study, 12 wards were randomly assigned to the ePsychNurse.Net (intervention) or training as usual (control). Baseline and 9-month follow-up data on nurses' knowledge of coercion-related legislation, physical restraint and seclusion, their attitudes towards physical restraint and seclusion, job satisfaction and general self-efficacy were analysed for 137 completers (those who participated in the 9-month follow-up assessment). No between-group differences were found on any variable, with the exception of a change in attitude to seclusion in favour of the control group. The findings of the long-term effects did not differ from the immediate outcomes (3-month follow-up) and the improved level of knowledge acquired and further consolidation of that knowledge did not take place in the 6-month period after the 3-month ePsychNurse.Net course. The ePsychNurse.Net should be further developed and its future modifications will require additional studies, probably with some new outcome measures.
Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Hyvinkää Hospital Region, Kellokoski Hospital, Tuusula, Finland. raija.kontio@hus.fi
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Hätönen
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Pitkänen
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Lahti
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Välimäki
D000328:Adult; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D019468:Disease Management; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013997:Time Factors