Marnie Bell|Karen MacDougall
Adapting online learning for Canada's Northern public health workforce
Public Health Agency of Canada|Public Health Agency of Canada
backgroundcanadas north diverse sparsely populated land inequalities public health issues evident particularly aboriginal people northern public health workforce unique mix professional paraprofessional workers formal public health education 2009 2012 public health agency canada phac collaborated northern advisory group develop implement strategy strengthen public health capacity canadas 3 northern territories access relevant effective continuing education identified key issue challenges include diverse educational cultural backgrounds public health workers geographical isolation variable technological infrastructure across northmethodsphacs skills online program offers internetbased continuing education modules public health professionals partnership northern advisory group phac conducted 3 pilots 2008 2012 assess appropriateness skills online program northernaboriginal public health workers module content delivery modalities adapted pilots adaptations included adding inuit northern public health examples using video teleconference discussions augment online selfstudy componentresultsfindings pilots informative similar previous skills online pilots learners developing countries online learning effective bridging geographical barriers remote locations incorporating content northern aboriginal health issues facilitates engagement learning employer support facilitates recruitment retention learners online program facilitator assets included experience public health professional north flexibility use modified approaches support measure knowledge acquisition application especially first nations inuit metis learnersconclusionsresults demonstrate appropriate adaptations online professional development provide practical accessible means wide range northernaboriginal public health workers acquire core competencies public health