Developing Computer-Based Learning on Care of Aged and Dying Incarcerated People.

INTRODUCTION: Corrections agencies are exploring ways to securely and cost-effectively increase access to high-quality, evidence-based educational programs for personnel. Technology-based instructional tools hold strong potential for continuing education. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Framework for Going to Full Scale was employed to guide a systematic approach. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to outline and describe the design and development of a media-rich interactive computer-based learning product, Enhancing Care for Aged and Dying in Prison, which addresses geriatric and end-of-life care issues in corrections. METHOD: Through an iterative process, the research team developed the computer-based educational program that included program and module-specific objectives in alignment with goals and priorities of the end users, detailed evidence-based content that was engaging and visually appealing, and assessments aimed at testing the user's knowledge. RESULTS: The Enhancing Care for Aged and Dying in Prison contains six modules, created under the careful guidance of the research team and the two advisory boards. Contents, including images and testimonials, were selected purposefully and strategically. Module objectives were developed in alignment with the goals and priorities of each module, and assessments tested user knowledge level pre/post module exposure. Completion of the training product advances the research and development necessary to further the goal of full-scale dissemination of the computer-based education. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: The goal of this program is to enhance care and improve quality of life for aged and dying inmates. Evidence-based training products are critical in preparing not only forensic nurses who work in corrections but also the broader group of correctional personnel in how to better meet the care needs of incarcerated persons.

Developing educational modules to enhance care of aged and dying inmates: Set-up phase.

The purpose of this article is to explain the strategies used in the "Set-up" phase of developing computer-based education on the care and management of incarcerated people who are older and/or dying. Public health nurses have an opportunity to support efforts in educating corrections staff to enhance health care for older and dying inmates. Such endeavors can promote social justice through inmates receiving evidence-based care that parallels that received by the community at large. "Set-up" is the first of four phases in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Framework for Going to Full Scale. Our design approach was threefold and included an environmental scan, a modified Delphi survey, and a usability study. An expert advisory board was consulted throughout the Set-up Phase. Participants for the Delphi Survey had expertise in geriatrics and corrections health care. Usability testing was conducted at two State Correctional Institutions. The Delphi Survey consisted of three Qualtrics surveys. Usability testing examined navigability; detected problems; observed time spent solving problems; identified problem severity; and developed recovery strategies. The Set-up established proof of concept, three prototype modules, and a specifications document to guide future programming. In addition, a Technology Niche Analyses® provided a preliminary commercialization plan (NIH, 2017). The Set-up phase has been instrumental in exposing the available infrastructure for dissemination of an educational product within corrections and may be a first step in addressing public health concerns on issues in aging. Commercial feasibility of the program and the need for continued research for Developing the Scalable Unit were established.

Enhancing Care of Aged and Dying Prisoners: Is e-Learning a Feasible Approach?

BACKGROUND: Prisons and jails are facing sharply increased demands in caring for aged and dying inmates. Our Toolkit for Enhancing End-of-life Care in Prisons effectively addressed end-of-life (EOL) care; however, geriatric content was limited, and the product was not formatted for broad dissemination. Prior research adapted best practices in EOL care and aging; but, delivery methods lacked emerging technology-focused learning and interactivity. PURPOSES: Our purposes were to uncover current training approaches and preferences and to ascertain the technological capacity of correctional settings to deliver computer-based and other e-learning training. METHODS: An environmental scan was conducted with 11 participants from U.S. prisons and jails to ensure proper fit, in terms of content and technology capacity, between an envisioned computer-based training product and correctional settings. RESULTS: Environmental scan findings focused on content of training, desirable qualities of training, prominence of "homegrown" products, and feasibility of commercial e-learning. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: This study identified qualities of training programs to adopt and pitfalls to avoid and revealed technology-related issues to be mindful of when designing computer-based training for correctional settings, and participants spontaneously expressed an interest in geriatrics and EOL training using this learning modality as long as training allowed for tailoring of materials.