Guidelines for Group Training

Introduction

Physioplus courses can be accessed by anyone anywhere in the world. Often these courses are used as part of a university programme or organisation workforce training initiatives, particularly in low resourced settings where it is difficult to access in person training from topic specialists.

The online courses can serve as a valuable part of education of health care professionals prior to practical training, as it can serve to:

• ensure that all participants have the same level of knowledge going into the practical training.
• lend more time to practical skills training as the theory has already been covered in the online training.

They can follow the training at their own pace and it’s a good refresher specifically for the PT’s and the follow up they do with the technicians within their rehab service.

Allows a multidisciplinary approach with shared learning.

Before you start

1. Question participants to get an idea of internet access at their home and work and if they had access to a laptop or smartphone.
2. Understand the context and needs of the rehab professionals (PT’s/ rehab techs/ P&O techs)

Organisation of the online elements of the training

Support the students by supplying them with:

1. Materials e.g. printed texts, access to computer or mobile device - ensure that a contract for lent materials is signed between the professional and the organisation.
2. Internet connection - you may need to pay for internet to 3-4 months depending on the volume of the module.
3. A support group - for example using a WhatsApp group. This helps support and supervise the participants, answer practical and technical questions that come up during their individual studies. It also helps professionals throughout the country exchange their experiences. The group is used to schedule the practical training after theory has been completed online. This helps keep the group motivated, they can better see who has advanced and how is behind.

Each professional should send you their course completion certificate. This can be used to allow access to future trainings.

Organisation of the practical training

The practical training helps to reinforce what was learned online, depending on the subject, the amount of days of training is chosen, at least 3 days. This training is usually held 2-3 times, in the different regions of where the professionals work.

Problem solving

• Sometimes, internet connection is slow or no signal available.
• Regarding the practical training, hospitals administration don't always give professionals time off to participate.