O3009: Feasibility Trial of an Electronic Adaptive Learning Curriculum for Pediatric Healthcare Workers in Tanzania

Background: Gaps in provider education contribute to millions of child deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) each year. Conventional provider education in LMICs is limited by reach, inability to scale and sustain. Adaptive electronic learning (AEL) is superior to conventional education in improving care and patient outcomes in High-Income Countries, and may overcome existing barriers in LMICs. In order to address the existing limitations of current healthcare worker education in LMICs, we developed an AEL curriculum (Figure 1) consisting of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the management of acutely-ill children. Prior to large-scale implementation, we undertook a feasibility trial of this curriculum among a cohort of medical interns at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania.

Methods: Medical interns at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania were recruited to complete the AEL curriculum. Primary outcome was module completion. Secondary outcomes included knowledge acquisition and mobile device use habits. The AEL curriculum was completed on participant mobile devices using existing cellular data packages. Participants were reimbursed for cellular data usage. Participant enrollment was supported by on- and off-site personnel utilizing WhatsApp messaging.

Results: 17 participants consented for enrollment and 7 (41.2%) successfully completed the AEL curriculum. Those who completed the curriculum experienced an average 24.4% increase in knowledge scores comparing pre- and post-curriculum assessments. All consented participants reported ownership of a mobile device capable of accessing the AEL curriculum utilizing their existing cellular data plans.

Conclusion: We report the first feasibility trial of an AEL curriculum conveying evidence-based guidelines for the care of acutely-ill children in an LMIC. Completion of our AEL curriculum in this cohort was feasible. Initial results regarding knowledge acquisition among those who completed the curriculum are also promising. The results of this trial will inform the future implementation of our AEL curriculum across multiple healthcare facilities in the Mwanza Region of Tanzania.