A model for design and development of online Health Professions Education Faculty Development Courses in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract The design and development of faculty development courses require a theoretical base that is cognisant of contextual factors. The purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility of a specific conjecture map as a model for the design and development of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa through a heuristic evaluation approach. The authors hypothesise that using heuristic evaluation strengthens an educational model’s theoretical basis and feasibility. Twenty-five health professions educators from nine sub-Saharan African countries participated in this multi-phased study. In the first phase, the participants completed a survey evaluating the model and the accompanying author-generated heuristics. Then, recommendations based on agreement from the participants were used to revise the model and the heuristics. In the subsequent phase, participants reviewed the revisions made and commented on the feasibility of the model within their local context. All six heuristics were revised following the initial phase, where 80 problems had been identified. The model was revised based on the responses and re-presented to participants. The model was deemed feasible by all except one participant upon revision. There was a strong relationship and inter-rater agreement of feasibility between 0.84 and 0.95 in terms of practicality, demand, acceptability, and adaptability of the model. Revisions to the final model and guidance documents incorporated all changes recommended by the participants, confirming the feasibility of a model for the design and development of online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa. Theoretical models are often developed through a top-down approach which omits the practice-based considerations that could change the formulation of the model. This study demonstrates the convergence of a theoretical and process model with theoretical, expert and end-user data triangulation. Further research is needed to test this empirically developed model for designing and developing online health professions education faculty development courses in sub-Saharan Africa.