Massive Digital Training for the Acquisition of Theoretical Knowledge About COVID-19 in Mexico

Abstract

Introduction: The Mexican population has a high rate of comorbidities which condition a high risk of complications associated with COVID-19 infection. This pattern of prevalence and accelerated transmission generated a complex scenario for the containment of this pandemic, which urgently required highly trained personnel to provide timely medical care.
Objective: Measure the change in theoretical knowledge about the management of critically ill patients by COVID-19 from the development and implementation of a mass digital training model and report the perception of the participants after the intervention.
Method: An online educational intervention, aimed for health care personnel, was designed to care for the critically ill patient. A single-group pre-experimental study with pre-test and post-test was carried out. Pre and post assessment materials were designed and applied to know the modification in medical knowledge through the intervention.
Results: 3016 health professionals were trained, 29.7% men and 70.3% women with an average age of 37.45 years (SD ± 11.2) years. The educational platform was satisfactorily evaluated by trained personnel, obtaining a score of 8.43 out of 10 (SD ± 1.66). The educative platform was satisfactory evaluated by the trained group obtaining an average grade of 8.43 over 10 (SD ± 1.66). Easy accessibility and applicability of the contents were demonstrated, as well as an adequate quality of didactic resources in the satisfaction survey. There was a statistically significant difference (p <0.0001) between the results obtained in our diagnostic test and the final examination of the course.
Conclusions: Massive digital training is an accessible tool in time and cost to acquisition of knowledge of health professionals about COVID-19 during the health contingency. Collaboration between non-profit institutions is possible and can lead to the development of valuable tools to improve medical training in Mexico.