Assessing the Effectiveness of a Massive Open Online Course for Caregivers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Methodological Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges to health care systems, particularly impacting the older population due to their vulnerability and increased susceptibility to severe complications. Many of the most vulnerable individuals rely on informal caregivers, who play a vital role in enabling them to continue living in their homes. However, social isolation and limited access to health services during the pandemic have made caregiving more difficult. In response, massive open online courses (MOOCs) have emerged as a training and support solution for caregivers. This study focuses on a MOOC developed to assist caregivers during the pandemic, aiming to enhance their knowledge of COVID-19 and prevention measures and promote effective self-care practices. OBJECTIVE: The study's aim is to develop and validate a MOOC integrating personal and housing hygiene measures to be adopted in self-care-related activities, surveillance, and monitoring by caregivers of the most vulnerable home-dwelling-dependent people, to provide safe care and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: A methodological study was developed. The content of the MOOC was developed based on scientific evidence and a Delphi study. The course was organized into 9 modules, addressing aspects related to safe self-care assistance and minimizing the risk of contagion. A convenience sample of 33 informal caregivers was recruited through a caregivers' association to verify the adequacy of the course. Knowledge questionnaires were administered before and after the course to assess the impact on caregivers' knowledge. The Family Caregiving Factors Inventory was used to evaluate caregiver resources, knowledge, expectations, and difficulties. Additionally, the technology acceptance model was applied to assess participants' satisfaction with the MOOC. RESULTS: Prior to attending the MOOC, participants demonstrated an average knowledge level score of mean 14.94 (SD 2.72). After completing the course, this score significantly increased to mean 16.52 (SD 2.28), indicating an improvement in knowledge. Caregivers found the course accessible, valuable, and applicable to their caregiving roles. Feedback regarding the MOOC's structure, illustrative videos, and language was overwhelmingly positive. Participants perceived the course as a valuable resource for decision-making in care delivery, leading to enhanced self-esteem and confidence. CONCLUSIONS: The MOOC has proven to be an effective tool for increasing caregivers' knowledge and empowering them in their roles. Remarkably, even low-literacy caregivers found the course valuable for its clear and understandable information. The MOOC demonstrated its adaptability to challenges faced during the pandemic, ensuring access to relevant information. This empowering strategy for caregivers has yielded positive outcomes. The MOOC represents a tool to support and empower informal caregivers, enabling them to provide optimal care during difficult times.

Realistic simulation in nursing education: Testing two scenario-based models.

AIM: To evaluate students' self-perceived pedagogical outcomes when using a digital scenario-based tool compared to traditional scenarios printed on paper. DESIGN: This study used a within-subjects experiment. METHOD: A digital platform for scenario development was developed, focusing on patients' regaining independence and returning home after an acute event. Students participated in two simulation activities, differing only in the type of scenario used and completed a questionnaire to evaluate their learning experience. RESULTS: Students considered that the new scenario template provided a clearer understanding of the situation under analysis, allowing them to recognize the focuses of attention to be prioritized when formulating the intervention plan. No Patient or Public Contribution: A digital platform for a standardized process of scenario writing to help realistic simulation in nursing education is a novelty in this study and will likely contribute to substantial learning gains.

Alimentar pessoa: conceção e desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta digital para cuidar de pessoas dependentes / Feeding a person: design and content development for a digital tool for care to dependent people / Alimentar a la persona: concepción y desarrollo de una herramienta digital de atención a personas dependientes

Enquadramento: As plataformas digitais são um recurso na saúde. Objetivo: O estudo pretende descrever a conceção, desenvolvimento e validação dos conteúdos do tema alimentar pessoa, a integrar numa plataforma digital, destinada a apoiar familiares cuidadores. Metodologia: A produção de conteúdos foi realizada por um grupo focal que, baseado na literatura e através da metodologia plain language, desenhou o material a incluir na plataforma. O material produzido foi validado por 15 peritos recorrendo à técnica Delphi e posteriormente submetidas a avaliação de 8 cuidadores. Resultados: Dentição, necessidades nutricionais, hidratação, cuidados a ter antes, durante e depois de alimentar a pessoa, alterações da deglutição e algumas situações especiais foram os conteúdos identificados para dar resposta às necessidades dos cuidadores. A informação foi refinada até que a estrutura e os conteúdos finais apresentassem uma linguagem simples, organização lógica, adequada à população, pouco diferenciada e com baixa literacia em saúde. Conclusão: Os conteúdos foram considerados facilitadores para uma tomada de decisão fundamentada por parte de quem cuida de pessoas com compromisso no autocuidado alimentar-se.

Background: Digital platforms are a resource in health. Objective: The study aims to describe the design, development, and validation of the content of the feeding a person, for integration into a digital platform, designed to support family caregivers. Methodology: The production of content was carried out by a focus group that, based on the literature and through the plain language methodology, designed the material to be included in the platform. The material produced was validated by 15 experts using the Delphi technique and subsequently subjected to evaluation by 8 caregivers. Results: Dentition, dietary needs, hydration, care before, during, and after feeding the person, changes in swallowing, and special situations were the contents identified according to the needs of caregivers. The information has been refined until the final structure and contents presented a simple language, logical organization, appropriate to the little differentiated population with low health literacy. Conclusion: The contents were considered facilitators of informed decision-making by caregivers of people with impaired self-feeding.

Marco contextual: Las plataformas digitales son un recurso en la sanidad. Objetivo: El estudio tiene como objetivo describir el diseño, el desarrollo y la validación de los contenidos del tema alimentar a la persona, para ser integrados en una plataforma digital destinada a apoyar a los cuidadores familiares. Metodología: La producción de contenidos la realizó un grupo focal que, con base en la literatura y a través de una metodología de lenguaje claro, diseñó el material para incluirlo en la plataforma. El material producido lo validaron 15 expertos mediante la técnica Delphi y posteriormente fue sometido a la evaluación de 8 cuidadores. Resultados: Dentición, necesidades nutricionales, hidratación, cuidados antes, durante y después de la alimentación de la persona, trastornos en la deglución y algunas situaciones especiales fueron los contenidos identificados para dar respuesta a las necesidades de los cuidadores. La información fue depurada hasta que la estructura y los contenidos finales presentaron un lenguaje claro, una organización lógica, adecuada a la población, poco diferenciada y con baja alfabetización en la salud. Conclusión: Se consideró que los contenidos facilitaban la toma de decisiones fundamentadas por parte de quienes cuidan a las personas con un compromiso en el autocuidado alimentarse.

Satisfação e usabilidade de uma tecnologia de informação e comunicação no ensino de enfermagem: um estudo piloto / Satisfaction and usability of an information and communications technology in nursing education: a pilot study / Satisfacción y usabilidad de una tecnología de la información y la comunicación en la formación de enfermería: un estudio piloto

Enquadramento: A literatura sugere que as ferramentas educacionais interativas podem constituir uma mais-valia para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Objetivo: Avaliar a usabilidade e a satisfação de uma plataforma tecnológica, destinada a estudantes de enfermagem, usando como objeto de apoio à aprendizagem, procedimentos relativos ao posicionar pessoa. Metodologia: Desenvolveu-se um estudo com 2 momentos de avaliação de referência cruzada. Cento e vinte e dois estudantes, inscritos numa unidade curricular no primeiro semestre do curso de licenciatura em enfermagem responderam a um questionário, para apurar a satisfação face ao modelo em uso (sem recurso à plataforma). Setenta e oito estudantes inscritos no segundo semestre tiveram acesso à plataforma educativa e deram a sua opinião quanto à eficácia, pertinência e responsividade da plataforma. Resultados: A ferramenta foi considerada útil, obtendo uma avaliação média de 8,01 (em 10). Conclusão: O uso correto de um objeto virtual de apoio à aprendizagem mostra facilitar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem, contribuindo para uma melhor aprendizagem e indiretamente para a excelência dos cuidados de enfermagem.

Background: The literature suggests that interactive educational tools can improve the teaching-learning process. Objective: To evaluate the usability and satisfaction capability of a technological platform, designed for nursing students, used as a support tool to learn the procedures related to patient positioning. Methodology: A study with 2 cross-reference evaluation moments was conducted. One hundred and twenty-two students enrolled in the 1st semester curricular unit of the Undergraduate Degree in Nursing, answered a questionnaire, for the assessment of the satisfaction level regarding the currently used model (with no access to the platform). Seventy-eight students enrolled in the second semester had access to the educational platform and gave their opinion on the efficacy, relevance, and responsiveness of the platform. Results: The students considered the tool useful. The overall evaluation had a mean of 8.01 (on a 0-10 scale). Conclusion: The correct use of the virtual learning object proves to be useful for the teaching-learning process, contributing to better learning and indirectly to the excellence of nursing care.

Marco contextual: La literatura sugiere que las herramientas educativas interactivas pueden constituir un beneficio para el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Objetivo: Evaluar la usabilidad y satisfacción de una plataforma tecnológica, dirigida a estudiantes de enfermería, para lo cual se utilizaron, como objeto de apoyo al aprendizaje, procedimientos relacionados con el posicionamiento de la persona. Metodología: Se desarrolló un estudio con 2 momentos de evaluación de referencias cruzadas. Ciento veintidós estudiantes matriculados en una unidad curricular en el primer semestre del Grado de Enfermería respondieron a un cuestionario para evaluar su satisfacción en relación con el modelo en uso (sin utilizar la plataforma). Setenta y ocho estudiantes matriculados en el segundo semestre tuvieron acceso a la plataforma educativa y dieron su opinión sobre la efectividad, relevancia, pertinencia y la respuesta de la plataforma. Resultados: La herramienta se consideró útil, y obtuvo una evaluación media de 8,01 (sobre 10). Conclusión: El uso correcto de un objeto de apoyo al aprendizaje virtual facilita el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, lo que contribuye a un mejor aprendizaje e indirectamente a la excelencia en la atención de enfermería.

El cuidado de familiares adultos. Cómo afecta a la salud y al bienestar del cuidador familiar? / Caring for adult relatives: what impact on health and well-being of the family caregiver

Introducción. El cuidado de un miembro de la familia con dependencia para los cuidados personales es un proceso complejo que afecta a la salud y al bien-estar del cuidador familiar. Objetivos. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar este impacto. Método. Se llevó a cabo una revisión integradora, respaldada por el Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal entre los años 2000 y 2012, en la que se tuvieron en cuenta todos los documentos completos accesibles. Se utilizó el método PI(CO)D. Para el análisis de los datos se solicitó la intervención de dos revisores independientes. Se utilizaron los indicadores del Joanna Briggs Institute para analizar la calidad metodológica de los estudios. Resultados. Se seleccionaron doce estudios principales. La mayoría de ellos se basaban en investigación observacional de tipo transversal/descriptivo, lo cual permite dibujar el perfil de los cuida-dores familiares e identificar sus necesidades y los factores relacionados con la carga. Los resultados muestran una mayor carga/estrés en los cuidadores familiares de personas con demencia y con un nivel elevado de dependencia. La mayor carga está relacionada con una mala percepción del estado de salud, de la satisfacción y de la calidad de vida del cuidador familiar. Los niveles de carga asociada, depresión emocional y estrés son más elevados en las mujeres que en los hombres. conclusiones. La naturaleza de los estudios utilizados permite identificar el impacto que supone el cuidado de un familiar con dependencia para los cui-dadores familiares. No obstante, es imposible analizar los resultados de mane-ra dinámica a lo largo de un periodo de tiempo. Es importante centrarse en la investigación basándose en los mejores datos clínicos disponibles para poten-ciar la toma de decisiones en la práctica clínica

IntroductIon. Caring for a family member dependent in self-care is a complex process with impact on health and well-being of the family caregiver. ObjectIve. This study aimed to identify this impact. Method. An integrative review was con-ducted supported on the Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal [Open Access Scientific Repository of Portugal], within the time period from 2000 to 2012 and considering all full text accessible documents. The PI(CO)D method was used. Two independent reviewers were invited to analyse data. The grids suggested by the Joanna Briggs Institute were used to analyse the methodological quality of the studies. Results. Twelve primary studies were selected. The majority of the studies were based on observational research of transversal/descriptive nature, enabling to trace the family caregivers' profile, to identify their needs and factors associated to bur-den. The results show increased burden/stress in family caregivers of persons with dementia and high dependency levels. Increased burden is associated with poor perception of the health status, satisfaction and quality of life of the family caregiver. Women show higher levels of associated burden, emotional depression and stress than men. Conclusions. The nature of the identified studies enables to identify the impact that caring for a dependent relative has on family caregivers. Notwithstanding, it is not possible to analyse the findings in a dynamic way throughout a period of time. It is important to focus on research based on the best clinical evidence available to enhance decision making in clinical practice