Improving competence for practice: a realist evaluation of co-produced master-level digital sexual health promotion courses for health and welfare professionalsShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: Frontiers in Education, E-ISSN 2504-284X, Vol. 10, article id 1575046Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Introduction Sparse education on sexual health promotion for health and welfare professionals can lead to unequal sexual health care provision, with related needs and rights being insufficiently met. To improve knowledge for health and welfare professionals, co-production and shared learning are essential, as students' learning, and professional development are facilitated by effective partnerships between universities and workplaces.Methods Using a theoretical framework based on the concepts co-production, work-integrated learning, digital teaching and digital didactics, an initial programme theory was created. Thereafter, a realist evaluation was made of outcomes from five different digital master-level courses, all covering various aspects of sexual health promotion. Four data sources were used: 1) midway course evaluation from 32 students analysed with reflective thematic analysis, 2) focus group interviews with four teachers, analysed with reflective thematic analysis, 3) Students' Attitudes to Sexual Health Extended survey pre- and post-test with 17 students, analysed with comparative statistics, and 4) learning analytics based on data from the digital tool FeedbackFruits, where interactions were analysed using a digital whiteboard).Results The analysis resulted in a refined programme theory indicating that students found courses relevant for practice, became more comfortable talking about sexual health in practice and applied their learning in practice.Discussion The study supports the value of co-production in developing and delivering digital master-level courses in sexual health promotion for professionals, and the added value of work-integrated learning in this setting and highlights the need for digital literacy among both students and teachers. Confirmation or contradiction of the findings should be tested in this and other settings, and preferably with a larger sample.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media S.A., 2025. Vol. 10, article id 1575046
Keywords [en]
co-production, higher education, realist evaluation, sexual health promotion, student experience, teacher experience, work-integrated learning
National Category
Pedagogy Public Health, Global Health and Social Medicine
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-68446DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1575046ISI: 001503804500001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105007248923Local ID: GOA;intsam;1022051OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-68446DiVA, id: diva2:1968695
2025-06-132025-06-132025-10-13Bibliographically approved