Cunha, Terreri and Len (2020) report on research with regard to the success of a virtual learning programme with regard to paediatric rheumatology in Brazil. They start off by sketching the background and scope of the need for training of resident medical practitioners, who are responsible for the first care of children as it would cause delays in referral, diagnosis and treatment if inadequately trained. Medical educators have since the 1960s developed computerized education and virtual learning environments (VLEs), which “stand out as a safe and potential tool in the literature, supporting the teaching-learning process”, Cunha, Terreri and Len (2020: 2) remark. They outline the approach to the training:
- teachers of reference services in paediatric rheumatology and paediatricians were invited to each suggest ten topics considered of utmost practical significance to the training
- after all the submissions were accrued, the original participants were sent a Survey Monkey assessment and asked to rate the 36 topics suggested in the first request using a Likert scale from 1 to 7 (1 = strongly disagree and 7 = strongly agree)
- after statistical analysis six themes emerged:
- History and physical examination in rheumatology
- Warning signs that may indicate rheumatic disease
- Musculoskeletal pain in childhood
- Differential diagnosis of acute arthritis
- Vasculitis: Kawasaki disease and Henoch-Schonlein purpura
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- a specialized system analyst used ASP.NET 4 associated with the Bootstrap framework to build the web system, making use of a Microsoft SQL Server 2012 database
- a trained and qualified in paediatric rheumatologist created video lessons and interactive clinical case sessions, which were reviewed by professors in the field
- freely accessible scientific articles were selected to complement the teaching
- the virtual learning environment, of each module, comprised a ten to 25 minutes of video lecture, an interactive case study and the mentioned scientific articles
- residents in training could only change modules after watching each video class in full and having answered the entire interactive case report
Cunha, Terreri and Len (2020: 7) observed Paediatric Rheumatology VLE to be an effective tool that brought about a significant increase in knowledge. They conclude that the internet has ushered in a new era, allowing for “students to quickly access information and virtual learning environments”, but remark that “not all educational sites are equally effective”.
Cunha, A.L.C., Terreri, M.T., & Len, C.A. 2020. Virtual learning environment in pediatric rheumatology for pediatric residents. Revista Paulista de Pediatria, 38. Accessed electronically from http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1984-0462/2020/38/2018189
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