Fighting for attention: Why continuing education for healthcare professionals has to be as interesting as the latest Netflix series

Some evenings, we face the not-so-difficult decision to watch an educational webinar or our favourite show on Netflix. That's why Immunize.io Health Association, of which I am the clinical director, is hoping to give healthcare professionals the best of both worlds.Lights, camera, action! At the end of August 2023, 12 healthcare experts from infectious disease, public health, oncology, primary care, and pharmacy lived the “movie-star experience” in a three-day production with professional actors and a renowned film production studio. The idea was a collaborative initiative between B.C. not-for-profit organization Immunize.io and COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna. Inspired by the current work demands on healthcare professionals and the rapidly evolving information they need to absorb, the goal was to create engaging and informative short educational videos to encompass the critical lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and update healthcare professionals with the latest fall respiratory season guidelines.After an extensive post-production process to select footage, integrate custom animations, and optimize picture and sound, all 10 “episodes” were released. Each tells a unique story, contains valuable educational content, and resonates with viewers because of its high-quality production. Episode 1: A 14-year-old actor educates an adult classroom on mRNA science, debunking common misconceptions using foundational high school science.Episodes 2 and 3: Powerful documentary-style vignettes looking at vulnerable populations and how recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) have evolved since the start of the pandemic. Episode 4: An entertaining take on “risk assessment” based on the popular celebrity show ‘Hot Ones.’ Episode 5: Experts and professional actors illustrating the impact of cognitive biases and the power of “confident communication” when addressing vaccine hesitancy in primary care. Episode 6: A much-neglected aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic is brought to the forefront. Language and cultural barriers experienced by visible ethnic minorities are discussed, along with tools and resources to support these groups. Episodes 7 and 8: A ‘House MD’ on “post-COVID condition” illustrates the mystique of this devasting sequela and the importance of being “up-to-date” on your vaccination. Episodes 9 and 10: The impact of “misinformation online” is recognized as healthcare experts read and debunk “misinformed tweets” about COVID-19 vaccines inspired by the popular segment on the Jimmy Kimmel show. All told, 10 episodes have a combined runtime of under 40 minutes, shorter than most evening webinar presentations. The goal is to address the needs of the modern healthcare professional. Combining high video production quality and microlearning is the new way to stay engaged and informed. Short segments allow for digestible chunks of information. High production value helps to improve HCP viewer engagement and retention.Could continuing education be as enjoyable as watching your favourite Netflix show? You be the judge and check out the digital vaccine education series here: Fall 2023 COVID-19 Video Series - Vaccine Center of ExcellenceBe warned, however, you may find yourself “binge-watching” these episodes as your next Netflix addiction! Ajit Johal, is a practicing pharmacist and the clinical director of Immunize.io Health Association.

Fighting for attention: Why continuing education for healthcare professionals has to be as interesting as the latest Netflix series

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