Microlearning for Continued Medical Education

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Microlearning is a form of continuous training and learning in which complex chunks of information are broken down into simplified sections that are taught over a period employing the benefits of repetition. The continuous nature of this form of training aids retention and contributes towards better recall as well. Microlearning in the healthcare industry for Continuing Medical Education (CME) can be especially rewarding as the repetitive aspect of this method is suitable for medical professionals. A study conducted in 2019   concluded that “microlearning as an educational strategy has demonstrated a positive effect on the knowledge and confidence of health professions students in performing procedures, retaining knowledge, studying, and engaging in collaborative learning.” Below are a few aspects of microlearning that will benefit healthcare professionals.

  • CONTEXT-RICH TRAINING

The medical profession is such that sticking to only theory-based learning will prove to be a futile attempt at teaching or learning. Instead, there should be an element of contextual training which involves simulations of real-life medical emergencies and situations in order to teach them practical applications of concepts. This form of microlearning will enable medical professionals to develop critical-thinking skills and will help them remember lessons learnt during training simulations and apply them on their jobs.

  • PATIENT-FACING SOFT SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Medical professionals tasked with a patient-facing role will have to develop perceptive soft skills that will help them through tense situations. Often medical staff are extremely good at their jobs but may lack the necessary skills required to put patients and their kin at ease during high-tension situations. Microlearning has an important role to play in helping staff develop these skills. Small doses of information that invite learners to mention how they would deal with various real-life situations can be especially beneficial.

  • AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY

One of the biggest advantages of using microlearning to train medical staff is the ease of accessing the courses anytime during the workday. The courses can be designed to be completed within a few minutes so staff can log in and complete them whenever they take a break. As opposed to other forms of training which require medical professionals to take an entire day out, microlearning is a real boon. In addition to this, the short-format learning method makes it possible for staff to directly incorporate their learnings into their jobs during the same workday itself.

  • ASSESSMENTS AND QUIZZES

Microlearning method of training has the ability to display immediate effects of learning. This is achieved through assessments and quizzes that are conducted right trough the modules being learned. This continuous assessing plays an important role in helping staff understand the pace of their learning as well as the content being consumed. Besides this, the repetitive nature of learning reinforces the concepts being conveyed which in turn solves the problems that could arise from poor retention and recall.

Healthcare professionals work in a dynamic environment and go through a plethora of experiences and emergency situations for which they must be adequately prepared at all times. Generally speaking, these professionals cannot afford to commit any mistakes, and this makes training and learning all the more important for them. In an industry where change is the biggest constant, microlearning training programs prepare medical staff for unexpected situations, increases their proficiency at executing their tasks and ensures that they provide the best possible patient care. It teaches them to be prepared for any emergency or crisis, equips them with skills necessary to adapt quickly and trains them to deliver quality healthcare services.