Robin O'Hagan, Janani Rajendra, Chris Allan, Marlene Bagatto, Ioan Aurelian Curca, Matt Lucas, Ewan Macpherson, Christine Meston, Sheila Moodie, Vijay Parsa, David Purcell, Jack Scott, Susan Scollie, Susan Stanton, Danielle Glista
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Continuing education in hearing health care encompasses a range of opportunities, including formal academic training, professional certification and credentialing, technical or job-specific instruction, professional development events, and personal or general skill enhancement. This study examined the continuing education experiences and needs of hearing health care professionals to inform the design and delivery of future educational initiatives tailored to this workforce.
Method: Members of the National Centre for Audiology at the University of Western Ontario developed a three-part, 40-item online survey to gather information from hearing health care professionals regarding demographic characteristics, experiences and needs related to delivery method, financial considerations, education requirements, professional interests, and learning style alignment.
Results: Eighty-one professionals aged between 18 and 64 years participated in this survey-based study. Most respondents were from North America and reported previous participation in some form of continuing education opportunity within the past year, with cost reported as a limiting factor to participation. Various learning opportunities, including developing new hands-on skills, were reported to benefit the respondents' learning styles. Future opportunities of interest were noted to include extension courses and professional certifications.
Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of continuing education opportunities specific to the professional development of hearing health care professionals. The understanding of past and future continuing education trends informed the need for targeted, accessible opportunities with a focus on active learning opportunities and those available online in real time.
期刊介绍:
Mission: AJA publishes peer-reviewed research and other scholarly articles pertaining to clinical audiology methods and issues, and serves as an outlet for discussion of related professional and educational issues and ideas. The journal is an international outlet for research on clinical research pertaining to screening, diagnosis, management and outcomes of hearing and balance disorders as well as the etiologies and characteristics of these disorders. The clinical orientation of the journal allows for the publication of reports on audiology as implemented nationally and internationally, including novel clinical procedures, approaches, and cases. AJA seeks to advance evidence-based practice by disseminating the results of new studies as well as providing a forum for critical reviews and meta-analyses of previously published work.
Scope: The broad field of clinical audiology, including audiologic/aural rehabilitation; balance and balance disorders; cultural and linguistic diversity; detection, diagnosis, prevention, habilitation, rehabilitation, and monitoring of hearing loss; hearing aids, cochlear implants, and hearing-assistive technology; hearing disorders; lifespan perspectives on auditory function; speech perception; and tinnitus.