Evaluation of knowledge related to competency of nurse educators after participating in international outreach seminar for continuing nursing education in Myanmar

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: With the drastic changes brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) to nursing science and education, public-private collaboration efforts have been crucial in improving skills using technology. Nurse educators are expected to expand their knowledge and develop skills both in clinical and educational institutions to be able to implement evidence-based practice and develop professional competency. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge related to competency of nurse educators before and after participating in an international outreach seminar for continuing nursing education in Myanmar. METHODS: We conducted an evaluation study to clarify the outcomes of an international outreach seminar before and after its implementation in Myanmar. The seminar focused on the development and improvement of nursing education, as well as research skills and knowledge of nurses. The two-day seminar was conducted at the University of Nursing, Mandalay in Myanmar on September 30, 2019 and October 1, 2019. Pre- and post-questionnaires were distributed before and after the seminar. RESULTS: The seminar was attended by 60 participants who were affiliated with a university (41.7%), nursing school (8.3%), hospital (33.3%), and other institutions (16.7%). All the participants had 12.57 years of clinical experience on average. There was a significant increase in the total average score of knowledge from 31.08 (SD = 19.95) before the seminar to 44.15 (SD = 22.19) after the seminar (p = 0.002). Over 90% of the participants recognized changes in their self-efficacy as educators. CONCLUSIONS: The participants acquired valuable up-to-date knowledge related to competency of nurse educators after attending the two-day international outreach seminar. They became keenly aware of the changes in their self-efficacy as educators. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Myanmar to evaluate knowledge related to competency of nurse educators who attended this seminar for continuing nursing education. This seminar was conducted as a mutual collaborative undertaking based on a long academic relationship built on trust and years of partnership between our universities. The findings imply that it is important for low- and middle-income countries to maintain a continuous international collaboration to be able to promote and support professional growth, knowledge, competency, and self-efficacy of their nursing educators. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: A two-day international outreach seminar on continuing education for clinical nurses and faculty members in Myanmar improved their knowledge related to competency and enhanced their recognition of changes in their self-efficacy as educators.