The Esophageal Atresia and traCHeal malformations Education pRoject Erasmus Project

Project Title

The Esophageal Atresia and traCHeal malformations Education pRoject

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Health and wellbeing; Cooperation between educational institutions and business

Project Summary

The medical sector is striving to enhance treatment options, decrease serious adverse events and increase patient quality of life. The area of surgery is continuously developing. Minimal invasive surgery (MIS) has become an important aspect of surgery in adults. In paediatric surgery, new surgical techniques are also being developed. However, there is a large knowledge gap between the newly developed surgical techniques and its use within Europe and even within the rest of the world. In order to tackle skills gaps and mismatches, the focus of this TEACHER project will be on the rare disease Esophageal Atresia (EA) and tracheal malformations in newborns. For this disease, only few medical centres in Europe have the expertise to perform innovative paediatric surgical techniques (both open surgery and via MIS). The level of education on innovative paediatric surgery is very low and an educational programme on EA and tracheal malformations does not exist. Also, newly discovered surgical techniques are not well shared among medical centres within Europe.

TEACHER counteracts the fragmented and internally focused medical centres within Europe, by setting up this network between Italy, Sweden, the UK and The Netherlands. Creating an inclusive higher medical education programme will be the start of a strong strategic network of medical centres to exchange innovative techniques, thereby exponentially increasing knowledge and skills.

The TEACHER partners have therefore formulated three objectives:
-To define a competency profile for paediatric surgical EA and tracheal malformations (IO1)
-To develop an online training programme for junior paediatric surgeons (IO2)
-To develop a blended teach the teacher programme for senior paediatric surgeons (IO3)

The TEACHER partnership consists of 4 medical centres and two industry partners. The medical partners are worldwide renowned centres for paediatric surgery and have specific expertise in the field of EA and tracheal malformations. The two industry partners Elevate and Incision bring in their expertise on online education. Elevate brings in knowledge and expertise regarding the development of distance-learning online curricula. Incision will bring in their knowledge about online course material containing step-by-step best practice protocols for surgical procedures.

The activities are divided in three IO’s:
•IO1: The first IO focuses on the development of a competency profile for paediatric surgeons with clinical and research tasks. This forms the basis for the education of paediatric surgeons. The competency profile will be based on literature review, questionnaires and focus groups.
•IO2: A training programme for junior paediatric surgeons of 30 ECTS will be developed. This will be a blended learning programme based on online education combined with hands-on education by senior paediatric surgeons. The training programme will be based on the four-component instructional design model (4C/ID model). Pilot course runs will be carried out to evaluate the training programme.
•IO3: The blended teach the teacher programme for senior paediatric surgeons of 20 ECTS will start with describing the intended learning outcomes. Based on the learning outcomes, the learning tools and instructional design models or theories will be defined in order to reach the learning outcomes. Next step is to create a blended learning course outline and syllabus.

TEACHER will deliver three IOs. The work for each IO is coordinated by a lead partner who will be responsible for setting up, managing, monitoring, evaluating and finalizing the activities and for producing the deliverables. In distributing and dividing the work in the project, the partners have taken background, knowledge and expertise of each of the partners as starting point. UMC Utrecht as project coordinator, is responsible for the overall management of the project.

TEACHER will increase the knowledge level of the paediatric surgeons with a focus on EA and tracheal malformations. Junior and senior paediatric surgeons will develop new skills, not only related to the medical skills but also related to multiple roles healthcare professionals need to play today, like setting up treatment plans and acquiring necessary research skills. It will lead to more uniformity in working methods and procedures. As such it will also improve the quality of research.

TEACHER will build a knowledge structure of benefit for European medical professionals and researchers. Throughout Europe several centres of expertise will develop and strengthen their position. From a healthcare perspective this project contributes to an increased quality of life of patients and equal opportunities for patients in all member states of the EU.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 448989 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM UTRECHT & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Karolinska Universitets Sjukhus
• OSPEDALE PEDIATRICO BAMBINO GESU
• ELEVATE BV
• UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
• Incision Group B.V.