Abstract
AB029. Leveraging digital education and training to promote health equity: opportunities and challenges
Zakaria A. Almsherqi1, Faizus Sazzad2,3, Satish R. Lakshminarasappa4, Theo Kofidis2,5
1Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore;
2Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, National University Heart Centre, Singapore, Singapore;
3Centre for Translational Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore;
4Department of Anatomy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore;
5Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Correspondence to: Zakaria A. Almsherqi, MBBch, PhD. Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, MD9, 2 Medical Drive, Singapore 04-04, Singapore. Email: phszama@nus.edu.sg.
Abstract: As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and technology-driven, digital education and training have emerged as innovative tools to bridge barriers related to socioeconomic status, geography, and cultural diversity. By leveraging these platforms, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, remote areas, or marginalized communities can now access high-quality health education and training materials that were previously inaccessible. Digital education and training provide numerous advantages in advancing health equity. Tailored learning pathways can be developed to address diverse learning needs, cultural nuances, and language barriers, ensuring personalized and inclusive educational experiences. The delivery of content in engaging formats, such as videos, interactive modules, and virtual simulations, enhances engagement and knowledge retention. Moreover, the flexibility of asynchronous learning enables individuals to learn at their own pace, accommodating various schedules and lifestyles. Collaborative learning and knowledge exchange are further facilitated by digital education and training. Virtual communities and social networks connect learners, educators, and practitioners across geographical boundaries, fostering the sharing of best practices, experiences, and innovative solutions. Through collective learning, health outcomes can be improved for diverse populations. Our collaboration between academic and clinical departments at the National University Health System (NUHS) in Singapore serves as an exemplary model to showcase how collaboration can provide a platform for education and training for students and healthcare professionals. This collaboration has provided valuable insights into the potential of developing tailored digital training programs that meet diverse learner needs while considering individual abilities and capabilities. By sharing our experience, we aim to contribute to the broader understanding of effective strategies for leveraging digital education and training to promote health equity.
Keywords: Digital education; collaborative learning; tailored learning; virtual simulation
Acknowledgments
Funding: None.
Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jphe.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jphe-2023-apru-ab029/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the noncommercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
doi: 10.21037/jphe-2023-apru-ab029
Cite this abstract as: Almsherqi ZA, Sazzad F, Lakshminarasappa SR, Kofidis T. AB029. Leveraging digital education and training to promote health equity: opportunities and challenges. J Public Health Emerg 2024;8:AB029.
