In-service healthcare providers’ perceptions of e-learning enablers and barriers in continuing professional education during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative case study of online CPE platform in Ukraine

Shapoval, Ganna (Anna)

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122047 Copy

Description

Title

In-service healthcare providers’ perceptions of e-learning enablers and barriers in continuing professional education during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative case study of online CPE platform in Ukraine

Author(s)

Shapoval, Ganna (Anna)

Issue Date

2023-12-01

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Witt, Mary Allison

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Witt, Mary Allison

Committee Member(s)

• Huang, Wenhao David
• Goodnight, Melissa Rae
• Oh, Eunjung Grace

Department of Study

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ed.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• E-learning
• Ukraine
• continuing professional education (CPE)
• public health
• COVID-19
• qualitative case study
• enablers and barriers to e-learning.

Abstract

The evident expansion of e-learning products and systems worldwide reflects a recent tendency and possibly long-term implication on the development of the education field, while the application of these solutions in continuing professional education (CPE) of medical personnel is not well-documented. The objective of this research is to explore the perspectives of in-service healthcare providers on the enablers and barriers that influenced their e-learning in the CPE during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine, which was also impacted by the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Ukraine constitutes a unique low- or middle-income country (LMIC) setting for a case study because the Ukrainian state currently addresses not only the complex effects of the COVID-19 pandemic but also the existential and military threats posed by the large-scale attack of the Russian Federation on the sovereign country of Ukraine since February 2022. This exploratory single-case study focused on the perceptions, personal experiences, views, and beliefs of adult learners, who were in-service healthcare providers, collected during in-depth interviews regarding the use of the e-learning system for their CPE through a prism of qualitative research methodology. The results of the study indicated that the cost-effectiveness, versatility, and accessibility of online courses were the enabling factors for e-learning use by healthcare practitioners, though the lack of time due to excessive workload, inability to interact with peer learners and instructors, or insufficient technical knowledge for navigating the e-learning platform were the barriers to such practice. This study ultimately develops a unique perspective on e-learning use by adult learners during the pandemic and large-scale military confrontation in Ukraine, suggesting research and practice implications for further improvement of e-learning solutions through additional technical orientation, digital literacy skill training, and technical support for learners; improved education program design; and further prevention of common sense of detachment and isolation among e-learners that could be achieved by multiple means.

Graduation Semester

2023-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Ganna (Anna) Shapoval

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