Web-Based Learning for General Practitioners and Practice Nurses Regarding Behavior Change: Qualitative Descriptive Study

Overview

Journal JMIR Med Educ

Publisher JMIR Publications

Specialties Biotechnology
General Medicine
Medical Education

Date 2023 Jul 27

PMID 37498657

Authors

Lauren Raumer-Monteith

Madonna Kennedy

Lauren Ball

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Supporting patients to live well by optimizing behavior is a core tenet of primary health care. General practitioners and practice nurses experience barriers in providing behavior change interventions to patients for lifestyle behaviors, including low self-efficacy in their ability to enact change. Web-based learning technologies are readily available for general practitioners and practice nurses; however, opportunities to upskill in behavior change are still limited. Understanding what influences general practitioners' and practice nurses' adoption of web-based learning is crucial to enhancing the quality and impact of behavior change interventions in primary health care.

Objective: This study aimed to explore general practitioners' and practice nurses' perceptions regarding web-based learning to support patients with behavior change.

Methods: A qualitative, cross-sectional design was used involving web-based, semistructured interviews with general practitioners and practice nurses in Queensland, Australia. The interviews were recorded and transcribed using the built-in Microsoft Teams transcription software. Inductive coding was used to generate codes from the interview data for thematic analysis.

Results: In total, there were 11 participants in this study, including general practitioners (n=4) and practice nurses (n=7). Three themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) reflecting on the provider of the Healthy Lifestyles suite; (2) valuing the web-based learning content and presentation; and (3) experiencing barriers and facilitators to using the Healthy Lifestyles suite.

Conclusions: Provider reputation, awareness of availability, resources, content quality, usability, cost, and time influence adoption of web-based learning. Perceived quality is associated with culturally tailored information, resources, a balance of information and interactivity, plain language, user-friendly navigation, appealing visual presentation, communication examples, and simple models. Free web-based learning that features progress saving and module lengths of less than 2 hours alleviate perceived time and cost barriers. Learning providers may benefit by including these features in their future behavior change web-based learning for general practitioners and practice nurses.

Citing Articles

Acceptability and implementation potential of colorectal cancer screening and health literacy training: A qualitative study among general practitioners in deprived areas.

Cazorla G, Redmond N, Lamouroux A, Boirot A, Rotily M, Addamiano M PLoS One. 2025; 20(2):e0317910.

PMID: 39932910 PMC: 11813080. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317910.

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