Despite commendable progress in the prevention, detection, and treatment of a wide variety of solid tumour types, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a significant health burden across the globe. OSCC is often first diagnosed at the late stages of the disease (advanced regional disease and/or metastasis). Delayed diagnosis precludes successful treatment and favorable outcomes. In clinical practice, opportunities exist to identify patients with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), which precede the development of cancer. Though multiple forms of information are available, the majority focus on diagnosis and use old guidance, with little reference to management of the conditions. Consequently, by carrying out an e-learning project on a transnational basis, we will embrace the different realities, in terms of how the management of OPMDs are conducted by healthcare professionals, in different countries, for the benefit of European citizens. E-learning allows the use of new educational media, providing healthcare professionals with the ability to search and select information, organizing their time efficiently (Bogacki et al 2004). There are five partners in this project, consisting of universities, non-profit organisations. These partners recognize the importance of strong links between higher education, the policy community and school practitioners. They worked together through planned regular communications and activities such as project meetings, seminars and workshops with policy makers and practitioners. They conducted conferences in each partner’s country to jointly develop and deliver a range of training resources. Consequently, we aimed: - To provide an e-learning tool about Oral Medicine for healthcare professionals, embracing the recognition, investigation, diagnosis and management of patients presenting with OPMDs. This is accessible to European Union healthcare professionals and translated into several languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Croatian and Spanish). - To strengthen the ties among European Union educational and professional health institutions by sharing best practices about PMD - To increase professionals’ skills and improve their personal portfolios, whilst taking into account the language/content differences between the countries’ education systems. Overall, the e-learning resource for OPMDs and their management was be organised into several modules, designed to be used by healthcare professionals such as dentists and doctors. It was managed through a collaborative methodology enabling open communication, clear roles and responsibilities and ensuring pre-cancer conditions are central to the work focus. It was freely available online and translated into several languages. By promoting the content of the e-learning program we believe a high number of healthcare professionals will complete it. Promotion was in the forms of posters, Facebook, Twitter, eBook, articles and communication meetings. Through an interactive developmental approach, involving feedback from training deliverers and other stakeholders, we ensured that all content is clear, accessible and relevant to the local educational context and practitioners in partner countries. We anticipate positive and long lasting effects on participant organisations and policy systems as well as on the individuals directly or indirectly involved in this project. It resulted in a sustainable model of good practice, in the management of these conditions and builds upon local, national and international knowledge, skills and experience. In conclusion, this pioneering EU guidance, which focuses on the management of OPMDs, will have a positive economic and healthcare impact upon the EU countries and decrease the mortality and morbidity rate among EU citizens.
Through an interactive developmental approach, involving feedback from training delivered, and other stakeholders, we have ensured the project is accessible and relevant to the local educational context and practitioners in partner countries. We wanted to achieve: • the development of an e-learning tool about Oral Medicine for Healthcare Professionals, embracing the recognition, investigation, diagnosis and management of patients presenting with OPMDs. This is accessible to all European Union Healthcare Professionals and translated into several languages (English, French, Portuguese, Croatian and Spanish). Evidence: www.OPMDcare.com • To strengthen the ties among European Union educational and professional health institutions. This would involve sharing best practices on the topic of OPMD through transitional and online meetings. Thus far, multiple teaching materials have been created which reflects good interaction and communication between partners. (http://opmdcare.com/downloadable-resources/). • To increase professionals’ skills and improve their personal portfolios whilst taking into account the language/content differences between the countries’ education systems. ( >1,700 individuals have participated in e-learning).
General Medical/Dental Practitioners and many other Healthcare Professionals regularly encounter patients who present with Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs). OPMDs is a term encompassing multiple disorders which have the ability to transform into cancer. Although there are multiple modalities of information available to healthcare professions on this topic, most exist in written form (in the English language only) and follow old guidance. Healthcare professionals from different sectors, in particular dentists, general medical practitioners, oral hygienists, dental therapists have been identified as key professionals on the frontline for the early diagnosis of OPMD and overall management. This e-learning project (WWW.OPMDcare.com) addresses provides a wide practical guidance on the diagnosis of OPMDs and overall management to be used by this particular group of healthcare professionals. It is supported by multiple images , leaflets, e-book articles as well as a variety range of other teaching material. The project addresses the need to educate and inform healthcare professionals on the detection, diagnosis and management of this group of conditions