DIGITAL LIBRARY
ELECTRONIC LEARNING USING AN E-BOOK IN NEUROREHABILITATION AND NEUROERGOTHERAPY FOR MEDICAL SPECIALISTS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, MEMBERS OF THE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY NEUROREHABILITATION TEAM
1 Medical University of Sofia (BULGARIA)
2 University Hosp[ital "St Ivan Rilski' - Sofia (BULGARIA)
3 Medical Faculty of Sofia University (BULGARIA)
About this paper:
Appears in: INTED2020 Proceedings
Publication year: 2020
Pages: 6488-6494
ISBN: 978-84-09-17939-8
ISSN: 2340-1079
doi: 10.21125/inted.2020.1736
Conference name: 14th International Technology, Education and Development Conference
Dates: 2-4 March, 2020
Location: Valencia, Spain
Abstract:
Introduction:
Neurorehabilitation is an interdiscipline between Neurology, Neurosurgery and Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM). The work (and the education) in this thematic field requires the coordinated activity of different members of the multidisciplinary and multi-professional neurorehabilitation team – medical specialists and health professionals. For authors of current work (neurologist, neurosurgeon, medical doctors - specialists in Neurology, Neurosurgery, PRM; and physiotherapists) the education of the staff is very important.

Methodology:
During last year we prepared an electronic book with presentations and videos on the topic 'Clinical Neurorehabilitation'. The e-book contains theoretical bases of neurorehabilitation and neuroergotherapy and the correspondent application in different conditions of the central or peripheral nervous system: Stroke, Parkinson, Multiple Sclerosis, Traumatic brain Injury, Traumatic spinal cord injury, Brain tumours, Brain aneurysm; Traumatic lesions of peripheral nerves, Bell’s palsy, Diabetic polyneuropathy, Lumbo-sacral radiculopathy and Cervico-brachial plexopathy; alcoholic polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome. Clinical cases are included, with explanation of practical skills for grasp and gait training, and some activities in daily living (ADL). The goal of the e-book is to complete the theoretical and practical knowledge of the medical and para-medical staff, working in this field in our country: medical doctors (PRM-specialists and PRM-trainees) and physiotherapists (bachelors and masters in Rehabilitation, Kinesiotherapy, Rehabilitation, Medical Rehabilitation and Balneology). We offered the book to all participants in long-life-learning (LLL) training courses on Neurorehabilitation and Neuroergotherapy, organized by the Medical University of Sofia during last year.
We created a set of tests and practical exams (including analysis of clinical cases) in the field of neurorehabilitation and neuroergotherapy, adapted to the level of professional competences of members of the neurorehabilitation team. During LLL courses we tested all participants: medical doctors (PRM-specialists and PRM-trainees) and physiotherapists (bachelors and masters in kinesiotherapy and rehabilitation). We evaluated the impact of the application of this e-book on the level of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in all groups of practitioners.

Results:
The results of the qualitative and quantitative evaluation demonstrates a statistically significant improvement in the level of theoretical knowledge and practical skills of all members of the multi-disciplinary multi-professional rehabilitation team. The level of satisfaction of all participants in the LLL training courses of the year is very satisfactory. All members of the interdisciplinary neurorehabilitation team consider the e-book exceptionally useful for their clinical practice, especially for patients’ education, for the everyday clinical neurorehabilitation practice, for grasp and gait training, for functional recoverf patients, for amelioration of the quality of life and for the autonomy of patients in activities of daily living.

Conclusions:
Authors consider very effective the application of this e-book on the level of theoretical knowledge and practical skills of the medical specialists and health professionals in the field of neurorehabilitation and neuro-ergotherapy.

Acknowledgement:
No conflict of interests. No financial support.
Keywords:
Electronic book, video-film, e-learning, neurorehabilitation, neuroergotherapy, quality of life, activities of daily living.