Highlights
- •In Africa, most patients with Parkinson's disease are underdiagnosed and untreated.
- •Health care providers traditionally have little access to continuing training.
- •In this web-education course, 33 health care providers were included.
- •Post-course access of patients with Parkinson's disease to health care was unchanged.
- •Tele-education is feasible, but better access to health care should be ensured.
Abstract
Background
In Sub-Saharan countries, most patients with Parkinson's disease are underdiagnosed
and untreated, with a marked shortage of qualified personnel.
Objectives
To develop a tele-education Parkison's disease program for health providers in Douala
(Cameroon).
Methods
Feasibility, satisfaction, pre-post course medical knowledge improvement and patients'
access were analyzed.
Results
Twenty lectures over the course of a year which connected participants with movement
disorder experts using live, synchronous video conferences, and teaching materials
were given. Thirty-three health professionals (52.4% women) including 16 doctors,
and 17 allied health professionals and 18 speakers participated. Videoconferences
were successfully completed in 80%, participation ranged from 20% to 70%, and satisfaction
was at least above average in 70% of the participants. Whereas medical knowledge was
dramatically improved, post-course patient access was not changed.
Conclusion
Tele-education for movement disorders in low-income countries is feasible. However,
better access and patient care should be ensured as the final outcome for tele-health
education. A sustainability plan is crucial to continue with this important need.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 14, 2015
Accepted:
July 13,
2015
Received in revised form:
June 22,
2015
Received:
May 22,
2015
Footnotes
☆Funding: This study was sponsored by the Telemedicine Task Force of the International Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorder Society.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
