gms | German Medical Science

Background: To provide high-quality, evidence-based health-care, professionals are required to build and maintain their extensive knowledge base. They need to stay up to date in their field, in which the degree of knowledge is rapidly changing and growing. As the use of technology becomes ubiquitous, they are turning to digital tools for support in their self-managed learning (SML) [1].

Question/objectives We aim to explore the ways in which skilled health professionals maintain and update their professional knowledge. We specifically focus on their current SML behaviours; including the use of digital tools, learning strategies used, motivations and expectations to learn.

Methods: 26 Swiss neurosurgeons participated in a semi-structured in-depth interview, which focused on ten pre-defined issues around maintaining professional knowledge (see table 1 [Tab. 1]). The data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Results imply that health professionals maintain their professional knowledge by selecting, reading and annotating scientific papers. However, further ways such as online forums and networking were also identified. All health professionals reported a lack of time and a demanding work schedule as factors, which impede SML. Most professionals reported struggling with issues related to increasing amounts of information, and ensuring the quality of new information sources, especially relating to the recent surge in apps and academic videos. We identified a strong desire to improve or change current behaviours, such as utilising a more efficient document management system in order to retrieve needed documents and to utilise more effective strategies to remember information outside of highlighting and annotation. Findings highlighted the current use of digital tools used to support professionals in a number of ways including; help to organise and manage all types of learning documents in one place and to help remember information with the use of visual effects. Nonetheless, many professionals reported a lack of knowledge about such tools available and in what ways specifically they could support research tasks. One of the overall findings focused on the intertwined nature of managed learning and SML and the difficulties in defining the tasks associated within each approach such as conferences and writing research papers.

Discussion: The interviews were held in a protected and confidential context, creating a climate of trust and confidentiality. This was an important methodological issue, as workplace expectations towards SML, specifically in healthcare are often exceedingly high [2]. Our study aims at honest statements about possible weak points, needs, as well as current tool use and preferences. The results deliver important insights and will provide checkpoints for a more specific follow-up survey.

Take home message: Health care-professionals realise the importance of SML and need for support. Promising pathways should be clarified in future research.