A virtual community-of-practice approach by rural stakeholders in managing pneumoconiosis in the USA: a cross-sectional analysis.

Authors

Akshay Sood, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; and Miners' Colfax Medical Center, Raton, NM, USA
Nour Assad, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
William Jarrell, Miners' Colfax Medical Center, 203 Hospital Drive, Raton, NM, USA
Summers Kalishman, ECHO Institute, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Kyla Le Suer, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Stephen Murillo, ECHO Institute, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Orrin Myers, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Rachelle Rochelle, ECHO Institute, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Sarah Salveson, Black Lung Clinics; Northwest Wyoming Community Action Program, 2240, Coffeen Avenue, Suite A, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA
Brian Soller, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250-0001, USA
Jolene Walker, Critical Nurse Staffing, 1114 N. 1st Street, Suite 200, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
Bruce Wissore, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; and Culley and Wissore, Harrisburg, IL, USA
Charles Pollard, Miners' Colfax Medical Center, 203 Hospital Drive, Raton, NM, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2020

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The re-emergence of pneumoconiosis, particularly among coal miners (ie black lung), in the USA is a challenge for rural communities because more miners require specialized care while expertise is scarce. The Miners' Wellness TeleECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) Clinic, jointly held by the University of New Mexico and a community hospital in New Mexico, provides structured telementoring to professionals caring for miners, including clinicians, respiratory therapists, home health professionals, benefits counselors, lawyers/attorneys and others, forming a virtual 'community of practice'. This approach has not been utilized and evaluated previously.

METHODS: The study's bimonthly program uses the ECHO telementoring model, which uses technology to leverage scarce mentoring resources; uses a disease-management model that is proven to improve outcomes in other disease states, by reducing variation in processes of care and sharing best practices; uses the principle of case-based learning with highly contextualized discussions, which fulfils key learning theory principles; creates a virtual community of practice; and uses an internet-based database to monitor outcomes. This 1-year cross-sectional study from September 2018 to September 2019 used geographical mapping of all attendee locations, web-based continuing medical education surveys completed by attendees using iECHO software, and a Research Electronic Data Capture-based survey of a convenience sample of participants, which obtained detailed information on demographics, knowledge, self-efficacy and collective efficacy. Knowledge sharing among participants was examined using insights and methods from social network analysis. Subgroup analysis involved comparisons between clinical and non-clinical professional groups, and between new and existing participants. Groups were compared using Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, and non-parametric Wilcoxon ranked sum test or student's t-test for continuous variables.

RESULTS: Participants were largely located in pneumoconiosis mortality hotspots of the USA. In a convenience sample of 70 participants, clinical professional groups such as clinicians (29%), home health professionals (20%) and respiratory therapists (17%) constituted the majority of the stakeholders. Participants demonstrated the lowest knowledge score on 'legal pneumoconiosis' among the knowledge areas questioned; reported low self-efficacy with respect to managing miners' conditions and interpreting test results; and rated the learning community highly in terms of trust (86%), willingness to help each other (93%) and being closely knit (87%). Analysis of knowledge sources indicated that participants receive substantial proportions of knowledge from individuals outside of their stakeholder and professional groups, but proportions differ among clinical and non-clinical professional groups, as well as among 'fresh' and existing participants.

CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates the successful creation of a virtual multidisciplinary community of practice in pneumoconiosis mortality hotspot rural regions of the USA, with participants reporting multidisciplinary knowledge transfer. The community is regarded highly by participants in relation to trust, willingness to help and being closely knit. This innovative educational approach may help ensure the delivery of high-quality interdisciplinary care to rural miners in pneumoconiosis mortality hotspots in the USA.

Recommended Citation

Sood A, Assad N, Jarrell W, Kalishman S, Le Suer K, Murillo S, Myers O, Rochelle R, Salveson S, Soller B, Walker J, Wissore B, Pollard C. A virtual community-of-practice approach by rural stakeholders in managing pneumoconiosis in the USA: a cross-sectional analysis. Rural Remote Health. 2020 Aug;20(3):5784. doi: 10.22605/RRH5784. Epub 2020 Aug 27. PMID: 32847365.