In April 2010, Apple released the iPad; a tablet/slate computer (a flat, touchscreen computer that one can hold in one's hand) for general use. As of Sept 25th, they have sold about 7.5 million iPads and the concept of a "slate" version of a tablet computer has taken off. Competition is ramping up in the form of the HP Slate, Acer, Asus Eee Pad [Windows 7], Dell Streak, NookColor, HTC, Samsung Galaxy [Android], and RIM Playbook [Blackberry]. Just as affordable and powerful computers now exist in a phone form, computers will soon be popular in a tablet format.

The tablet computer (especially in its slate version) is likely to first succeed in medical education as a replacement for paper textbooks. E-book textbooks can become lightweight, portable, indexed, searchable, hypertext learning environments. Schools will migrate from paper textbooks to e-books and use tablet computers as e-book readers [just as Kindle is replacing the standard book]. Potentially, in a few years, all students would have access to a tablet computer. How else can medical educators take advantage of this new technology?

This workshop offers attendees a chance to first get up to speed on this rapidly developing technology. Once the group has a common understanding, the group can identify and share ideas and ways this technology can enhance medical education beyond the simple e-book reader potential. Specific solutions will be sought for training in basic sciences, pre-clerkship training in clinical care [including the full range of competencies], clerkship training, and internship/residency.

The workshop will brainstorm ideas, define potential benefit and challenges for each, and identify possible implementation steps. Post-workshop, attendees can investigate the new technology, share ideas and experiences, and build solutions that can be shared broadly and are implemented widely.

With funding from NIDA (Contract ##HHSN271200900036C ) we are creating a web-based training program for primary care providers that builds skills in substance abuse screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) . The primary focus is on alcohol and tobacco - other substances of abuse are also included. Each module will include in-text case studies with clinical decision-making and live-chat interviews. Before writing the module content we created a development plan that includes: module title, goal, practice gap, educational objectives, corresponding best practice guidelines, and brief outlines of the case studies and standardized patients to be featured in the module.

With funding from the National Institute on Aging, we have developed a web-based intervention to provide dementia caregivers with education, care management, and peer-support in an effort to increase knowledge and self-efficacy while decreasing caregiver burden and depression. The session will present results from this study, which will be completed in December 2010. The study involves 60 family caregivers using the website weekly over a four-week period. Participants are required to complete pre- and post-intervention assessments to measure knowledge, self-efficacy, burden, depression, and satisfaction with the experience.

The research findings will be of interest to direct care professionals and health educators who work with caregivers and their family members, as well as to caregivers themselves. If found effective, the website could serve as a model for future Internet-based patient and caregiver interventions.

Categories:

• Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias - (Physical Health and Aging)
• Care Management - (Physical Health and Aging)