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Development of an Online Repository of OH&S Education and Training Resources for Healthcare: Phase 1
RS2009-IG11
Final Report Date: November 2010
| Principal Applicant: | Catherine Ogden (OHSAH)) |
| Co-applicants: | Tony Gilligan, Hasanat Alamgir (OHSAH) |
For more information about this project, please contact Catherin Ogden.
Issue
This project created an online tool for OHS professionals in healthcare to collaborate, network and share OHS education and training resources.
Key findings
- An online tool for collaborating and sharing resources called “OHS Connect” was created and launched in March 2010.
- The first resources to be added were on the topics of musculoskeletal injury (MSI) prevention and violence prevention.
- Future projects that involve designing or testing OHS programs in B.C. healthcare can now make use of the repository to review what has already been done and to get in contact with other professionals developing similar programs.
Objectives
- To develop a repository of OHS education and training resources for the healthcare sector in B.C. that will improve access to resources, reduce duplication of effort, and increase collaboration between the different groups involved in the development of OHS education and training resources
Methods
After creating a Steering Committee with healthcare employer and union representation to oversee the project, the research team conducted an online survey with professionals with OHS education and training roles in the B.C. healthcare sector. The survey asked about how participants access OHS resources, how they collaborate on developing new resources, and how the repository could increase collaboration. It also assessed participants’ level of interest in an online repository, the types of resources most in demand, and their website content and design preferences.
Focus groups were also conducted with some of the survey participants to further explore the types of resources of interest, how best to identify and approve OHS resources, and how the site could foster collaboration, networking and ongoing use.
The research team worked with a website developer to create the website, called “OHS Connect”. With input from the Steering Committee, the research team identified and categorized an initial collection of violence prevention and MSI prevention resources. The usability of the website was then assessed with input from eight OHS professionals.
Strategies to raise awareness of the site after it was launched included articles in e-updates and newsletters, a post card and “eblast” campaign to potential site users, an online promotional video, and a handout distributed at B.C. healthcare conferences and events.
Results
- 89% of survey respondents said an online tool would help with locating OHS education and training resources.
- Most respondents said they would be likely to use the online tool once or twice per month, and over half said they would be more likely to collaborate on OHS education and training resources after the launch of the site.
- The OHS Connect site was launched in March 2010 and now has over 200 registered users from the B.C. healthcare sector.
Conclusions
The project resulted in a current functioning repository of OHS education and training resources for the healthcare sector, designed with input from prospective users. Future projects that involve designing or testing OHS programs in B.C. healthcare can now make use of the repository to review what has already been done and to get in contact with other professionals developing similar programs.
Future directions
Future improvements to the site may include:
- expanding the resource collection
- adding ways to identify high quality and best practice resources, either formally or through user ratings
- adding tools for collaboration and networking
Publications and presentations