Decision-Making Capacity Assessment Education using Online Modules

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Specialized training is necessary for health-care providers such as physicians, nurses, and social workers, to be able to accurately perform decision-making capacity assessments (DMCAs). With an increasing demand for flexible, accessible education, there is growing interest in utilizing online training modules to keep health-care providers up to date on current best practices in DMCAs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of online training modules in enhancing clinicians’ self-reported knowledge, confidence, and comfort with the core concepts necessary to conduct DMCAs.

Methods

This was a pretest/posttest study on an online DMCA training. Participants from a regional health authority (Alberta, Canada) took 13 online modules on 15 core DMCA concepts, from March to December 2021. A pretest and a posttest were completed before and after completion of the modules. Agreement to Likert-like items were collected and compared at a group level. Additionally, the ratings were compared with historical data from face-to-face DMCA workshops.

Results

A total of 683 pretests and 241 posttests were completed. All 15 posttest ratings were higher (p < .001) than pretest ratings. Compared to the historical face-to-face workshops, the self-reported ratings in the online modules tended to be higher both on pretest and posttest. However, the changes in self-reported ratings from pretest to posttest were similar between the online modules and the historical workshops.

Conclusion

Online learning of DMCA concepts can lead to higher self- reported learning posttest to pretest. Furthermore, the changes in self-reported ratings are similar to those observed in face-to-face workshops.