title: A conceptual model for analysing informal learning in online social networks for health professionals.
abstract: Online social networking (OSN) provides a new way for health professionals to communicate, collaborate and share ideas with each other for informal learning on a massive scale. It has important implications for ongoing efforts to support Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the health professions. However, the challenge of analysing the data generated in OSNs makes it difficult to understand whether and how they are useful for CPD. This paper presents a conceptual model for using mixed methods to study data from OSNs to examine the efficacy of OSN in supporting informal learning of health professionals. It is expected that using this model with the dataset generated in OSNs for informal learning will produce new and important insights into how well this innovation in CPD is serving professionals and the healthcare system.
authors.affiliation: Health and Biomedical Informatics Research Centre.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Health and Biomedical Informatics Research Centre.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Department of Computing and Information Systems, School of Engineering.
authors.forename: Shanton
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Unit, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: General Practice Academic Unit, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D007858:Learning; D017145:Models, Educational; D009862:Online Systems; D061108:Social Media / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support