title: The development of an exemplar e-module for the continuing professional development of European dentists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the development of an exemplar e-module for dental continuing professional development (CPD) provided by dental schools and other dental educational providers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The exemplar e-module covered the topic of 'Sterilisation and cross-infection control in the dental practice' as this is one of the most recommended topics for dental CPD in Europe. It was developed by a group of topic experts, adult learning and distance learning experts and a technical developer. Major concerns were pedagogy, interoperability, usability and cost reduction. Open-source material was used to reduce the cost of development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The e-module was pre-piloted in dental practitioners for usability and then evaluated by experts in the field and dental academics through an electronic questionnaire and an online presentation and discussion at the ADEE 2012 Special Interest Group on DentCPD-Lifelong learning. This facilitated refinement before final production. A Creative Commons License was implemented to ensure the developers' rights and facilitate wider distribution and access to CPD providers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The e-module was developed according to well-defined pedagogical and technical guidelines for developing e-learning material for adult learners. It was structured to promote self-study by directing learners through their study, promoting interaction with the material, offering explanation and providing feedback. Content validity was ensured by extensive review by experts. The next step would be to expand the evaluation to practising dentists in various countries after relevant translations, and adaptations to local policies have been made.
authors.affiliation: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Dentistry, Athens, Greece. akossion@dent.uoa.gr
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kossioni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kavadella
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tzoutzas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsiklakis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cowpe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karaharju-Suvanto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suomalainen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Povel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Soboleva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liepa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akota
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D003479:Curriculum; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D020375:Education, Distance; D018961:Educational Technology; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods; D018973:Intellectual Property; D020407:Internet; D009862:Online Systems; D012984:Software; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods