Online Continuing Medical Education for the Latin American Nephrology Community.
A continuing medical education (CME) course was implemented for Latin American nephrologists in 2013. The topic was Immunopathology in native and transplanted kidneys. The course was given in Spanish and Portuguese. The activities included a distance education seven-week asynchronous online modality with multiple educational strategies. Thirty hours of study workload were estimated to complete the course. Four hundred and ninety-eight physicians coming from 18 countries registered for the course; 442 of them participated in it. Of those who participated, 51% received a certificate of completion and 29% a certificate of participation. Sixty-five percent of registrants participated in the case discussions. Eighty-six percent were very satisfied and 13% were satisfied. Lack of time to devote to the course was the main limitation expressed (62%), while Internet access or difficulties in the use of technology were considered by only 12 and 6% of participants, respectively. There was a significant increase in knowledge between before and after the course; the average grade increased from 64 to 83%. In conclusion, technology-enabled education demonstrated potential to become an instrument for Latin American nephrologists.
EviMed Corp, Uruguay.
Alvaro
A
Margolis
Nephrology Department, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
Francisco
F
Gonzalez-Martinez
Nephrology Department, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
Oscar
O
Noboa
Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.
Mario
M
Abbud-Filho
EviMed Corp, Uruguay.
Leticia
L
Lorier
Nephrology Department, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
Marcelo
M
Nin
Nephrology Department, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
Ricardo
R
Silvariño
EviMed Corp, Uruguay.
Sofía
S
García
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile.
Jacqueline
J
Pefaur
Nephrology Department, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gustavo C
GC
Greloni
Nephrology Department, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Irene L
IL
Noronha
EviMed Corp, Uruguay.
Antonio
A
Lopez
Nephrology Department, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.
María A
MA
Ribeiro-Alves
STALYC.
Roberto
R
Tanús
SLANH.
Juan
J
Fernández-Cean
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003479:Curriculum; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007843:Latin America; D019303:Multilingualism; D009398:Nephrology / Q000193:education*; D009862:Online Systems; D010820:Physicians; D012984:Software