Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39244775›Full record

ArticleMedical education online2024

Benefits and limitations of the transfer online of Irish College of General Practitioners continuing medical education small group learning during the COVID pandemic: a national Delphi study.

Stephanie Dowling, Finola Minihan, Ilona Duffy, Claire McNicholas, Gillian Doran, Pat Harrold, John Burke, Walter Cullen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medical education online, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Stephanie DowlingCME Small Group Tutor Network, Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Finola MinihanCME Small Group Tutor Network, Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Ilona DuffyCME Small Group Tutor Network, Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Claire McNicholasCME Small Group Tutor Network, Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Gillian DoranCME Small Group Tutor Network, Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Pat HarroldCME Small Group Tutor Network, Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin 2, Ireland.
John BurkeCME Small Group Tutor Network, Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Walter CullenUCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn Ireland and internationally, small-group learning (SGL) has been shown to be an effective way of delivering continuing medical education (CME) and changing clinical practice. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study sought to determine the benefits and limitations, as reported by Irish GPs, of the change of CME-SGL from face-to-face to online learning during COVID.

methodsGPs were invited to participate via email through their respective CME tutors. The first of three rounds of a survey using the Delphi method gathered demographic information and asked GPs about the benefits and/or limitations of learning online in their established small groups. Subsequent rounds obtained a consensus opinion.

resultsEighty-eight GPs across Ireland agreed to participate. Response rates varied from 62.5% to 72% in different rounds. These GPs reported that attending their established CME-SGL groups allowed them to discuss the practical implications of applying guidelines in COVID care into practice (92.7% consensus), reviewing new local services and comparing their practice with others (94% consensus); helping them feel less isolated (98% consensus). They reported that online meetings were less social (60% consensus), and informal learning that occurs before and after meetings did not take place (70% consensus). GPs would not like online learning to replace face-to face-CME-SGL after COVID (89% consensus).

conclusionGPs in established CME-SGL groups benefited from online learning as they could discuss how to adapt to rapidly changing guidelines while feeling supported and less isolated. They report that face-to-face meetings offer more opportunities for informal learning.

Indexed as

COVID-19Delphi TechniqueEducation, DistanceEducation, Medical, ContinuingGeneral PractitionersAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelFemaleGroup ProcessesHumansIrelandMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsSARS-CoV-2CME online learningcontinuing professional developmentother learning

Identifiers

PMID39244775
PMCPMC11382731

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.