The WHO has
recently released its first-ever digital healthcare guidelines to fulfill the
gap between medicine and technology. These guidelines are designed based
on the critical evaluation of the evidence
on emerging digital interventions that are positively contributing to healthcare
system. The guidelines enable certain points to reach majority of
population globally. WHO’S recommendations
aim to encourage “the mainstreaming and institutionalizing” of effective
digital practices.
Adapting an
evidence-based iterative development process using technology is more effective in improving the
knowledge of youth on substance use.
Ray AE and team
has conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of an e-learning program in preventing the adolescent substance use
by increasing the media literacy skills than face-to-face learning programs.
The study involved a face-to-face Youth Message Development (YMD) program, and
the e-learning version of YMD, named as REAL media program for spreading the
information regarding the substance use. The primary objective of the study was
to adapt the YMD curriculum to a self-paced,
interactive, electronic-learning (e-learning) format and expand its content to
cover alcohol, cigarettes, and other substances by adolescents. The secondary
objective was to test the feasibility of an e-learning approach. Both the
programs has conveyed the message regarding the healthy living and incorporated
the learning-approaches required for healthy living.
End users feedback was gathered from the face-to-face and
web-based programs. High self-efficacy in applying skills was seen in the web-based
program than face-to-face program.
The study concluded that iterative
build process involving the end user from the outset resulted in an overall
successful technology-driven adaptation of an evidence-based curriculum.
Reference
Ray AE, Greene K, Hecht ML,
Barriage SC, Miller-Day M, Glenn SD, Banerjee SC. An E-Learning Adaptation of
an Evidence-Based Media Literacy Curriculum to Prevent Youth Substance Use in
Community Groups: Development and Feasibility of REAL Media. JMIR Form Res.
2019 May 9;3(2):e12132.
