E-LEARNING - TOOL FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY.

This paper presents a novel approach in training for orthopaedic surgeons, developed within the ERASMUS + research project 2015-1-RO01-KA202-015230, ERASMUS+ VET "Collaborative learning for enhancing practical skills for patient-focused interventions in gait rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery". Considering that classical education of orthopaedic surgeons, which is based on lectures, self-study, workshops and cadaver dissections, followed by supervised practical training within daily practice, quite often results in limited ability of the trainees to practically apply the knowledge, this project is directed to vocational training for enhancing the practical skills of the orthopaedic trainees and prepare them for future practice. The project has some particular features features apart from the standard educational frames: the type of information delivered to the trainees, consists not of classical courses, but of surgical guidelines (including explanatory videos) and case presentations, and the method for delivery is an e-learning platform, also giving the possibility of interactive internetdelivered questionnaires, based on case scenarios. Based on a thorough trans-national needs analysis, this educational scaffold resulting from collaboration between hospitals and Higher Education Institutes from different European countries, is an attempt illustrate the "trainee-focused learning" principle; the platform works as a virtual medical environment in which the trainee will have to adapt to the individual situation of each patient, choosing the proper diagnosis and treatment (patient focused interventions). The innovative aspects of this project will enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic skills of the orthopaedic trainees in the direction of individualised medical interventions, which will increase the quality of health care services, the patient's level of satisfaction and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]