abstract: 'Objective Continuing education (CE) is essential for a healthcare

  workforce, but in regional areas of Australia there are challenges to

  providing and accessing relevant, reliable and low-cost opportunities.

  The aim of the present study was to collaborate with the local regional

  healthcare workforce to design, deliver and evaluate an

  interdisciplinary CE (ICE) program.

  Methods A participatory action research (PAR) model combined with an

  appreciative inquiry (AI) framework was used to design, deliver and

  evaluate an ICE program. A focus group of 11 health professionals

  developed an initial program. Evaluation data from 410 program

  participants were analysed using AI.

  Results The ICE program addressed the CE barriers for the regional

  healthcare workforce because the locally derived content was delivered

  at a reasonable cost and in a convenient location. Program participants

  identified that they most valued shared experiences and opportunities

  enabling them to acquire and confirm relevant knowledge.

  Conclusion ICE programs enhance interdisciplinary collaboration.

  However, attendance constraints for regional healthcare workforce

  include location, cost, workplace and personal factors. Through

  community engagement, resource sharing and cooperation, a local

  university and the interdisciplinary focus group members successfully

  designed and delivered the local education and research nexus program to

  address a CE problem for a regional healthcare workforce.

  What is known about the topic? Participation in CE is mandatory for most

  health professionals. However, various barriers exist for regional

  health workers to attending CE. Innovative programs, such as webinars

  and travelling workshops, address some of the issues but create others.

  Bringing various health workers together for the simultaneous education

  of multiple disciplines is beneficial. Collectively, this is called ICE.

  What does this paper add? Using PAR combined with AI to design an ICE

  program will focus attention on the enablers of the program and meet the

  diverse educational needs of the healthcare workforce in regional areas.

  Engaging regional health professionals with a local university to design

  and deliver CE is one way to increase access to quality, cost-effective

  education.

  What are the implications for practitioners? Regional healthcare

  workers'' CE needs are more likely to be met when education programs are

  designed by them and developed for them. ICE raises awareness of the

  roles of multiple healthcare disciplines. Learning together strengthens

  healthcare networks by bolstering relationships through a greater

  understanding of each other''s roles. Enriching communication between

  local health workers has the potential to enhance patient care.'
affiliation: 'Martyn, JA (Corresponding Author), Univ Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast
  Campus,Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay, Qld 4655, Australia.

  Martyn, Julie-Anne, Univ Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast Campus,Old Maryborough Rd,
  Hervey Bay, Qld 4655, Australia.

  Martin, April, Univ Sunshine Coast, Nursing, Fraser Coast Campus,Old Maryborough
  Rd, Hervey Bay, Qld 4655, Australia.

  Newby, Ruth, Univ Sunshine Coast, Biosci Nursing, Fraser Coast Campus,Old Maryborough
  Rd, Hervey Bay, Qld 4655, Australia.

  van der Westhuyzen, Jasper H., Galangoor Duwalami Primary Hlth Serv, 7-11 Cent Ave,
  Pialba, Qld 4655, Australia.

  Spanhake, Dale, Wide Bay Hosp \& Hlth Serv, Div Family \& Communities, POB 592,
  Hervey Bay, Qld 4655, Australia.

  Zanella, Sally, Bolton Clarke, 99 Doolong Rd, Kawungan, Qld 4655, Australia.'
author: Martyn, Julie-Anne and Scott, Jackie and van der Westhuyzen, Jasper H. and
  Spanhake, Dale and Zanella, Sally and Martin, April and Newby, Ruth
author-email: 'jmartyn@usc.edu.au

  ja.scott888@bigpond.com.au

  jazwest@westnet.com.au

  dale.spanhake@health.qld.gov.au

  szanella@boltonclarke.com.au

  amartin2@usc.edu.au

  rnewby@usc.edu.au'
author_list:
- family: Martyn
  given: Julie-Anne
- family: Scott
  given: Jackie
- family: van der Westhuyzen
  given: Jasper H.
- family: Spanhake
  given: Dale
- family: Zanella
  given: Sally
- family: Martin
  given: April
- family: Newby
  given: Ruth
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1071/AH17124
eissn: 1449-8944
files: []
issn: 0156-5788
journal: AUSTRALIAN HEALTH REVIEW
keywords: 'community engagement; interprofessional; multidisciplinary; professional

  development'
keywords-plus: 'PROFESSIONAL-DEVELOPMENT; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; INTERPROFESSIONAL

  EDUCATION; NEEDS; WORK; CPD'
language: English
number: '3'
number-of-cited-references: '44'
orcid-numbers: 'Newby, Ruth/0000-0002-4900-0349

  Martin, April Ilene/0000-0003-0506-3919'
pages: 345-351
papis_id: c2c8d2470e2e0604d3397930ffebae18
ref: Martyn2019combiningparticipato
researcherid-numbers: 'Newby, Ruth/AAQ-7220-2021

  '
times-cited: '4'
title: Combining participatory action research and appreciative inquiry to design,
  deliver and evaluate an interdisciplinary continuing education program for a regional
  health workforce
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000478072900015
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '11'
volume: '43'
web-of-science-categories: Health Care Sciences \& Services; Health Policy \& Services
year: '2019'