You said, we did

Suzie Normanton, Feedback Lead in the EASD e-Learning team, reports on the range of external feedback received by the platform during the first six months of 2023 – and highlights how this feedback has resulted in improvements to the e-Learning programme.

Feedback is an important part of our external quality assurance programme, providing assurance that our e-Learning platform meets the expectations of our international community of healthcare professional learners by matching up to standards and a commitment to continuous quality improvement.

Currently, our key sources of external feedback include learners (healthcare professionals working in all aspects of diabetes care and research, all over the world), accrediting organisations (the UK’s Royal College of General Physicians and Royal College of Physicians) and other organisations that have endorsed modules on the platform (Primary Care Diabetes Society). Looking ahead to 2024, we are also hoping to gain accreditation from the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME).

Learner feedback

Here are some examples of external feedback over the last six months, and how we have responded to them.

• Ten learners have contacted us to request help with setting up an account or with the process of obtaining and downloading a certificate of completion; one learner recently responded to express their thanks, saying, “Yes, now it worked perfectly. Thank you for all your help!”. Another said, “That’s great, thank you. I am connected with many other colleagues who are always looking for CPD opportunities, so I’d be happy to pass on the details of your courses.”
• When asked how they would rate their satisfaction with a specific module, of 38 learners who answered this question, 32% said they were ‘very satisfied’
• 100% of learners agreed that the module is at the right level for their current knowledge
• Whilst some learners said all parts of the module they studied were useful, the clinical case studies were also highlighted

Qualitative feedback included the following comments:

• My understanding of diabetes neuropathy has vastly improved thanks to this course (Diabetic neuropathy: Module 1)
• This course has significantly enhanced my knowledge and comprehension of diabetes neuropathy (Diabetic neuropathy: Module 2)
• Latest advancements. (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Module 2)

How could our modules be improved? 

The module authors are reviewing feedback in this section, which will be addressed via the periodic review process and include:

• More data on adverse effects (GLP-1 receptor agonists: Module 2)
• No change, excellent content (Real-world evidence: Module 2)
• If possible to have a handout at the end as slides (Diabetes and Hajj: Module 1)
• More data on adverse effects (Gestational diabetes: Module 1)
• Just perfect (Lifestyle intervention: Module 1)
• Include more explanations of the lifestyle non-pharmaceutical interventions and the impact versus therapy (Lifestyle intervention: Module 1)
• More cases (SGLT-2 inhibitors: Module 8 and Module 9)
• Simplify incidence (Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes: Module 1)

Clinical application of learning

One type of feedback we are always particularly interested to receive is information about how learners plan to apply what they have learned from one of our modules to their own practice. Here are some of the examples we have received in recent months.

Learners stated that they will apply their learning from a specific module to their practice by:

• “Applying my learning when prescribing GLP-1 RAs during my diabetic clinic” (GLP-1 receptor agonists: Module 1)
• “Educating patients and healthcare providers” (Diabetes and the Hajj: Module 1)
• “Changing my thought process regarding diabetes pathogenesis. It made me more wise” (Lifestyle intervention: Module 1)
• “Applying the stepwise approach for diagnosis and management of patients” (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Module 2)

Learners also said:

“My goal is to enhance the management of diabetic neuropathy in order to provide better care for my patients.” (Diabetic neuropathy: Module 3)

“As a healthcare provider, I plan to conduct foot screenings for my patients.” (Diabetic neuropathy: Module 3)

Please do continue to send us your feedback, either by filling in the learner feedback form when you complete a module, or directly via: feedback@easd-elearning.org

Feedback from accrediting and endorsing organisations

Real-world evidence: Module 1

“The module explores the value attached to real-world evidence (RWE) in clinical decision making, which has significantly increased in recent years. The author uses examples taken from diabetes treatment to illustrate what RWE is and why it is important.”

Obesity and diabetes: Module 1

“Very useful module – good explanations, good changes of format – e.g. case studies, talking heads and graphs.”

Suggested changes included:

Feedback:     Could you provide a list of all references in each module as a PDF?

Response:     We are currently testing a method of doing this.

Feedback:     Add an optional pre-module interactive learning exercise to help with a base understanding of real-world evidence versus randomised control trials, and real-world evidence more generally.

Response:     We have discussed this feedback with the module authors and are planning to introduce.

Don’t forget you can also sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with all

new EASD e-Learning courses and Horizons: EASD e-Learning – Provided by

leading diabetes academics (easd-elearning.org).

Any opinions expressed in this article are the responsibility of the EASD e-Learning Programme Director, Dr Eleanor D Kennedy.