Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Sep 3, 2023
Date Accepted: Dec 13, 2023
Transfer of knowledge on pneumoconiosis care among rural-based members of a virtual community of practice: A cross-sectional study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Given the re-emergence of pneumoconiosis, there is a tremendous need to train rural professionals in its multidisciplinary management. The Miners’ Wellness teleECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) Program provides longitudinal multidisciplinary telementoring to diverse professionals taking care of miners by creating a virtual community of practice. Rural-urban differences in knowledge transfer in such a community of practice, however, remain unknown.
Objective:
To evaluate the role of rurality of patient/client base in the transfer of knowledge to professionals caring for miners using the virtual community of practice approach.
Methods:
Drawing insights from social network analysis, we examined the cross-sectional association between the rurality of participants’ patient/client base and their self-reported receipt of knowledge.
Results:
Multivariable analyses revealed that as the rurality of patient/client bases increased, participants reported receiving knowledge from larger numbers of members, (ii) a greater variety of stakeholder groups, and (iii) a larger proportion of members outside of their own primary stakeholder group (p<0.05 for all comparisons).
Conclusions:
Our results underscore the capacity of the TeleECHO model to leverage technology to promote rural health equity for miners. Clinical Trial: NA
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