E-learning within the European cystic fibrosis society - A multidisciplinary cross-sectional survey.

• The need for continuing professional development spans all disciplines within CF. • Online education platforms are used widely by the CF health professional community. • The ECFS education platform is rated favourably as a source of education. • Results will help improve the delivery of high quality and accessible content. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a component of practice that spans all disciplines within cystic fibrosis (CF). E-learning resources theoretically represent flexible, low cost and time efficient methods of CPD. We aimed to explore European Cystic Fibrosis Society (ECFS) members' and CF health professional communities' current views, experiences and perceptions of e-learning and the ECFS education platform (ECFS-EP). An online cross-sectional survey was developed by the ECFS Education Committee and circulated via the ECFS conference, emails and within the society subgroups between June and September 2023. 547 responses were received from 58 countries; 57 % of responders were ECFS members. A wide range of specialities were represented from the multidisciplinary team including 36 % clinicians. The majority of respondents (63 %) spent 6 or more hours a week on their professional education. Online platforms were used either weekly (34 %) or monthly (37 %); 54 % of respondents had used the ECFS-EP and this was rated favourably overall, specifically for content quality. Preferred formats for education were articles and medium length (15–30 min) webinars. This multidisciplinary cohort survey illustrates contemporary practice and opinion relating to e-learning and the ECFS-EP. Strengths include the high number of responses and the wide range of countries and specialities represented. Results suggest the ECFS-EP is valued and highlights priority topics, preferred formats and opportunities to optimise awareness. Results support continued provision and oversight of high quality education via an online platform. Continued success will rely on learning from user experience and feedback to inform future practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]