Health Profession Educators’ Readiness toward Blended Learning as a Method of Teaching – A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: Various teaching and learning methods that use digital tools have been used in professional health education. Among these, blended learning (BL) has recently attracted attention. The successful implementation of any teaching method requires educators’ readiness and acceptance to adopt the method. Therefore, this study aimed to assess professional health educators’ readiness using a cross-sectional study and thematic analysis of the qualitative data obtained. Methods: A structured course on BL was conducted to train the educators. The structured course introduces the concept of BL. The institute’s learning management system was used to deliver the course. Participants completed a retro-pre questionnaire designed and validated to assess their readiness for, and perception of, BL. Results: Of 116 participants who completed the course, 62 completed the retro-pre questionnaire. There was a statistically significant improvement in faculty members’ knowledge and skills when using the BL method. Thematic analysis of the open-ended questions identified the perceived challenges and advantages of BL. Participants’ readiness to adopt BL was evident in their responses. Conclusion: This study concluded that adopting user-friendly technology and appropriate training will facilitate educators to adapt BL as a method to train HPE learners.