Opportunities for supporting physician continuing professional development (CPD) may exist through careful instructional design and creative use of information and communication technology. The overarching goal of this study was to explore the learning experiences and outcomes of cardiologists participating in a web conference (“webinar”) series to understand the factors that can support webinars in being an appealing and satisfying CPD medium for these learners. Acknowledging that a pedagogically-based framework for program design is a cornerstone of effective CPD (Hutchinson & Estabrooks, 2009; Inan & Lowther, 2007; Casimiro, MacDonald, Thompson, & Stodel, 2009), this study used the W(e)Learn Framework (MacDonald, Stodel, Thompson, & Casimiro, 2009) as a process guide and quality standard for program design, development and delivery. Cardiologists voluntarily participated in an educational webinar series in which they shared their observations and experiences. Informed by the results of a systematic review of physician eLearning design preferences, this dissertation serves as a mechanism to learn about how webinars can be implemented to support learning and practice change within a population of highly specialized physician learners. Methodological approaches included a systematic review of literature examining physician preferences for eLearning design, a case study of webinar implementation, and interviews with cardiologists who participated in the webinars. The findings of the systematic review, the case study and the interviews aligned to characterize key considerations in webinar implementation. Webinar designers must carefully determine program structures, content, and media to create a satisfying learning experience. Cardiologists seek a webinar experience that responds to their professional reality of competing priorities, complex patients, and ambiguous clinical questions. They seek a mix of evidence-based, authentic and challenging content, delivered by credible content experts. The study found that purposefully designed webinars can be a satisfying learning experience for cardiologists with the potential to influence changes in knowledge and practice. The use of an instructional design framework may structure and enrich webinar implementation; this dissertation encourages their use.

Opportunities for supporting physician continuing professional development (CPD) may exist through careful instructional design and creative use of information and communication technology. The overarching goal of this study was to explore the learning experiences and outcomes of cardiologists participating in a web conference (“webinar”) series to understand the factors that can support webinars in being an appealing and satisfying CPD medium for these learners. Acknowledging that a pedagogically-based framework for program design is a cornerstone of effective CPD (Hutchinson & Estabrooks, 2009; Inan & Lowther, 2007; Casimiro, MacDonald, Thompson, & Stodel, 2009), this study used the W(e)Learn Framework (MacDonald, Stodel, Thompson, & Casimiro, 2009) as a process guide and quality standard for program design, development and delivery. Cardiologists voluntarily participated in an educational webinar series in which they shared their observations and experiences. Informed by the results of a systematic review of physician eLearning design preferences, this dissertation serves as a mechanism to learn about how webinars can be implemented to support learning and practice change within a population of highly specialized physician learners. Methodological approaches included a systematic review of literature examining physician preferences for eLearning design, a case study of webinar implementation, and interviews with cardiologists who participated in the webinars. The findings of the systematic review, the case study and the interviews aligned to characterize key considerations in webinar implementation. Webinar designers must carefully determine program structures, content, and media to create a satisfying learning experience. Cardiologists seek a webinar experience that responds to their professional reality of competing priorities, complex patients, and ambiguous clinical questions. They seek a mix of evidence-based, authentic and challenging content, delivered by credible content experts. The study found that purposefully designed webinars can be a satisfying learning experience for cardiologists with the potential to influence changes in knowledge and practice. The use of an instructional design framework may structure and enrich webinar implementation; this dissertation encourages their use.

Opportunities for supporting physician continuing professional development (CPD) may exist through careful instructional design and creative use of information and communication technology. The overarching goal of this study was to explore the learning experiences and outcomes of cardiologists participating in a web conference (“webinar”) series to understand the factors that can support webinars in being an appealing and satisfying CPD medium for these learners. Acknowledging that a pedagogically-based framework for program design is a cornerstone of effective CPD (Hutchinson & Estabrooks, 2009; Inan & Lowther, 2007; Casimiro, MacDonald, Thompson, & Stodel, 2009), this study used the W(e)Learn Framework (MacDonald, Stodel, Thompson, & Casimiro, 2009) as a process guide and quality standard for program design, development and delivery. Cardiologists voluntarily participated in an educational webinar series in which they shared their observations and experiences. Informed by the results of a systematic review of physician eLearning design preferences, this dissertation serves as a mechanism to learn about how webinars can be implemented to support learning and practice change within a population of highly specialized physician learners. Methodological approaches included a systematic review of literature examining physician preferences for eLearning design, a case study of webinar implementation, and interviews with cardiologists who participated in the webinars. The findings of the systematic review, the case study and the interviews aligned to characterize key considerations in webinar implementation. Webinar designers must carefully determine program structures, content, and media to create a satisfying learning experience. Cardiologists seek a webinar experience that responds to their professional reality of competing priorities, complex patients, and ambiguous clinical questions. They seek a mix of evidence-based, authentic and challenging content, delivered by credible content experts. The study found that purposefully designed webinars can be a satisfying learning experience for cardiologists with the potential to influence changes in knowledge and practice. The use of an instructional design framework may structure and enrich webinar implementation; this dissertation encourages their use.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-06T17:07:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cicero.pdf: 4943185 bytes, checksum: 20ac7507d52c9b76db7b7578f40e90c2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study was divided into three different researches, whose goals were: 1) Assess the level of orientation given by patients about sexual activity after infarction, 2) assess the level of knowledge, comfort and approach of the cardiologist about the sexual activity of their patients, and 3) investigate the relationship between physical fitness and sexual desire, satisfaction and sexual frequency in patients with coronary artery disease. The first study involved 58 patients through an interview about information received from health staff during hospitalization or ambulatory care. In the second, 108 cardiologists responded to a questionnaire anonymous and self-responsive with questions relating to knowledge, comfort and forward approach in situations that involve sexual activity. The third study involved 84 male subjects, 42 with coronary disease and 42 group control. For the Statistical analysis was used frequency, descriptive statistics, chi-square test for categorical variables, t test for independent samples, Spearman Correlation Test. In study One, the data revealed that patients are poorly oriented about sexual life aspects and this misinformation creates fear and anxiety, making difficult to return to full sexual activity. Women are rarely oriented and men discuss this issue further because them starts the conversation with doctors. The second study showed the difficulty of cardiologists broach the subject, and comfort levels are lower when the patient is the opposite sex. Physicians with higher academic degrees discuss the theme further. The third study showed that sexual satisfaction in patients with CHD tends to be lower than men without arterial disease. These patients have more episodes of angina during coitus and difficulty in erection and ejaculation. However, as the physical capacity increases in this group, also increases the overall satisfaction with sexual life, which in turn correlates with higher frequency and sexual satisfaction. These data demonstrate the importance of discussing the subject-matter sexuality with patients with CAD and to encourage physical exercise to return the quality of previous sexual life. / O presente estudo foi dividido em três pesquisas distintas, cujos objetivos foram: 1) Avaliar o nível de orientação recebida pelos pacientes sobre atividade sexual após o infarto; 2) avaliar o nível de conhecimento, conforto e abordagem do cardiologista a respeito da atividade sexual de seus pacientes, e; 3) Verificar a relação entre capacidade física e desejo, satisfação e freqüência sexual em portadores de coronariopatia. No primeiro estudo, participaram 58 pacientes através de entrevista sobre as informações recebidas da equipe de saúde durante a internação ou no atendimento ambulatorial. No segundo, 108 médicos cardiologistas responderam a um questionário anônimo e autoresponsivo, com questões referentes a conhecimento, conforto e abordagem frente às situações que envolvem atividade sexual. No terceiro estudo participaram 84 sujeitos do sexo masculino, 42 com doença coronariana e 42 do grupo controle. Para análise estatística foi utilizada freqüência, estatística descritiva, qui-quadrado para cariáveis categóricas, Teste t para amostras independentes, Teste de Correlação de Spearmann. No estudo 1, os dados revelaram que os pacientes são pouco orientados nos aspectos da vida sexual e que essa desinformação gera medo e ansiedade, dificultando o retorno pleno às atividades sexuais. As mulheres dificilmente são orientadas e os homens discutem mais o assunto porque iniciam a conversa com seus médicos. O segundo estudo mostrou a dificuldade dos cardiologistas em abordar o assunto, e os níveis de conforto são menores quando o paciente é do sexo oposto ao seu. Médicos com maior titulação acadêmica abordam mais o assunto. O terceiro estudo mostrou que a satisfação sexual em portadores de DAC tende a ser menor que a de homens sem doença arterial. Estes pacientes apresentam mais episódios de angina no coito e dificuldades na ereção e ejaculação. Porém, à medida que a capacidade física aumenta nesse grupo, aumenta também a satisfação geral com a vida sexual, que por sua vez correlaciona-se com maior freqüência e satisfação sexuais. Tais dados revelam a importância de se discutir o assunto sexualidade com o paciente com DAC e de se estimular a praticar exercícios físicos para retornar a qualidade da vida sexual prévia.