Using developmental research to design innovative knowledge translation technology for spinal cord injury in primary care: Actionable Nuggets™on SkillScribe™

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2014 · DOI: 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000243 · Published: January 1, 2014

Simple Explanation

Actionable Nuggets™for spinal cord injury (SCI) are a knowledge translation tool facilitating evidence-based primary care practice. Evaluation results from these two phases of development have informed the design of SkillScribe™, an innovative electronic platform intended to offer reflective continuing medical education (CME) programming through mobile devices in order to support the key features of the Actionable Nuggets™approach. Actionable Nuggets™for SCI, delivered using a convenient and portable electronic medium, with time-released content and interactive testing has the potential to improve the primary care of patients with SCI.

Study Duration

1 Year (Phase 2) + Ongoing (Phase 3)

Participants

Primary care physicians; specialist physicians (N=49 in Phase 1, N=1038 users in Phase 2)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
In both hard copy and electronic form, physicians report that Actionable Nuggets™are an acceptable and useful approach to providing CME for low-prevalence, high-impact conditions like SCI.
2
53% of participants reported that they had made changes to their practice as a result of the content of the tool; 75% of participants reported that they had applied information from the tool to their practice; and 33% of participants indicated that they had made a referral to another provider as a direct result of information provided in the tool.
3
The electronic version of this tool has been well-received by Canadian physicians from a range of disciplines including primary care

Research Summary

Actionable Nuggets™for spinal cord injury (SCI) are a knowledge translation tool facilitating evidence-based primary care practice, originally developed in 2010 and refined in 2013. Evaluation results from these two phases of development have informed the design of SkillScribe™, an innovative electronic platform intended to offer reflective continuing medical education (CME) programming through mobile devices in order to support the key features of the Actionable Nuggets™approach. Actionable Nuggets™for SCI, delivered using a convenient and portable electronic medium, with time-released content and interactive testing has the potential to improve the primary care of patients with SCI.

Practical Implications

Improved CME

Actionable Nuggets™ offer an acceptable and useful approach to providing CME for low-prevalence, high-impact conditions like SCI.

Practice Changes

The Actionable Nuggets™ tool leads to practice changes, with physicians incorporating more comprehensive assessment, increased awareness of accessibility, improved referral patterns, and better attention to prevention and health promotion for SCI patients.

Mobile Accessibility

SkillScribe™ provides a convenient and portable electronic medium for delivering Actionable Nuggets™, improving accessibility and potential for application.

Study Limitations

1
Cost associated with production and delivery through traditional mailing systems.
2
Limited nature of the electronic online presentation did not offer participants access to some of the key elements associated with the Actionable Nuggets™approach, such as timed release and portable access.
3
Not specified

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