Effectiveness of a web-based learning program for promoting local healthcare planning competencies.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a web-based educational program regarding local healthcare planning by public health nurses (PHNs) in Japan.

Design: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Sample: Full-time PHNs working for local governments across Japan.

Measurements: The primary outcome was nurses' self-perception of competencies in public health policy. The secondary outcome was self-perception of knowledge, skills, and perspectives regarding local healthcare planning. We analyzed intergroup differences using the intention-to-treat principle and the Mann-Whitney U-test.

Intervention: The intervention group received six web-based learning modules including substantial knowledge and skills regarding local healthcare planning based on the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model and adult learning theory.

Results: Totally, 273 PHNs registered, and 38 were excluded without completing the baseline survey; 235 were randomly allocated to either the intervention (n = 118) or control (n = 117) groups. Sixty-four participants in the intervention group completed the program. Over 70% of the participants lacked opportunities to learn about local healthcare planning. The intervention group showed significant improvement in self-perception of competencies, knowledge, and skills regarding local healthcare planning, except for items related to evaluation.

Conclusions: The web-based learning program effectively improved participants' self-perception of competencies in local healthcare planning.