Understanding Basic Rehabilitation Techniques - Evaluation Report

Acknowledgments

The Understanding Basic Rehabilitation Techniques MOOC was developed and delivered by ReLAB-HS and Physiopedia. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Learning, Acting, and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS) activity would like to thank the following people for their contributions to this work:

Course Coordinators: Rachael Lowe, Naomi O’Reilly

Content Contributors: Naomi O’Reilly, Vidya Acharya, Tarina van der Stockt, Wanda van Niekerk, Jess Bell, Matt Huey, Stacy Schiurring, Robin Tacchetti.

Webinar Content Experts: Stacy Schiurring, Matt Huey, Naomi O’Reilly

Course Facilitators: Naomi O’Reilly,  Jess Bell, Carin Hunter, Tarina van der Stockt, Lucy Aird.

Webinar Facilitators: Amanda Ager, Naomi O’Reilly, Lucy Aird.

This publication is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Learning, Acting, and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS). The contents are the sole responsibility of Physiopedia and ReLAB-HS and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

For information regarding this report, please contact: Rachael Lowe ([email protected])

Summary

From September 4 to October 1st, 2023, Learning, Acting, and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS), led by Physiopedia, successfully delivered a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) entitled “Understanding Basic Rehabilitation Techniques” via the Plus online learning platform. The program consisted of eight independent courses, which included:

1. Introduction to Rehabilitation Techniques and Intervention
2. Assessment Before Moving and Handling
3. Assessing Range of Motion
4. Assessing Muscle Strength
5. Assessing Muscle Length
6. Neurological Screen
7. Exploring Positioning
8. Exploring Transfers

In each course, the learner completed required learning activities and a final quiz that tested knowledge gained from the course. To complete the overall Understanding Rehabilitation as a Health Strategy program, the learner had the option to submit and pass a written assignment.

The program was also supported with two optional live webinars with physiotherapist, Stacy Schiurring and Matt Huey, to provide the opportunity for increased learner interaction and engagement with the content experts. The webinar recordings were also made available on the Plus platform for participants unable to access the webinars live.

1. Webinar 1: Clinical Case Studies of the Lower Limb
2. Webinar 2: Clinical Case Studies of the Upper Limb

Course Type: Free, Open, Online

Institution: ReLAB-HS via Physiopedia

About this Course: This MOOC aimed to equip health and social care professionals to develop knowledge of the fundamental rehabilitation techniques.

Target Audience: These courses were designed and written for health and social care professionals, clinicians, students, assistants, and other rehabilitation-related health systems stakeholders.

Time Commitment: 16 hours over four weeks (with an optional extra eight hours)

Date: September 4 to October 1, 2023, with live webinars on September 14 (Webinar 1: Clinical Case Studies of the Lower Limb)and on September 28 (Webinar 2: Clinical Case Studies of the Upper Limb ). These remain available on the Plus platform to members.

Requirements: Participants were required to complete online learning activities, engage with additional resources, and complete the course evaluations and quizzes.

Assessment: There was a quiz at the end of each course, and participants could complete an optional final written assignment to demonstrate knowledge gained from the programme of eight courses.

Awards: Eight course completion certificates awarding a total of 11.8 Plus (P+) points with an additional five Physioplus (P+) points available for the optional assignment to complete the programme.

Accreditation: Each individual course was accredited for continuing education and professional development (CE/CPD) in the USA, Australia and South African and is formally accepted without accreditation as a professional development activity by many other countries

Registrations MOOC: 11,331

Registrations Live Webinars: 533 Lower Limb Webinar and 526 Upper Limb Webinar

Countries Represented MOOC: 111

Countries Represented Live Webinars: 242 Lower Limb Webinar and 83 Upper Limb Webinar

Professions Represented MOOC: 32

Professions Represented Live Webinars: 20 Lower Limb Webinar and 8 Upper Limb Webinar