Ubiquity: Technologies for Better Healrh in Aging Socr'eries
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A. Hasmün et al, ( Eds. )
/O.f Press, 2006 @
20ü6 Orguniaing Cornmittee of MIE 2006
EI\N-ICS - Implementation and Evaluation of a Multilingual Learning Management System for Sleep Medicine in Europe Brigitte xNogl-r'-, Teresa PAIvA2 Dieter JLINGMANN3, Ri"o göguEo and rhomas PENZEL' Sleep Laboralory, Hospital af Philipps-{Jniversity, Baldingerstr. I , D-J50J3 ' Ma r bur g, G erm any, (orc b l@ma i I e r. u ni- m arb u r g. de) z Centro de EEG e NeuroJisiotogii Clinica, Lda, Lisbon, Portugal t Robotron Datenbank-Sofrware GmhH, Dresden, Germany 4 Dept. of Busines,s Management ancl Economics, [Jniversity of Tecihnoiag,,, Dresden, Germany Abstrnct. A new web based network aims at the improvement of health carc in Europe by integrating advanced e-leaming and e-publishing technologics for the training of medical doctors, nurscsJ and students. The field of application is sleep
physiology and sleep medicinc. Based
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multilingual, multimedia
communication system, ENN-lCS Centre offers direct access to medical information for users, i.e healthcare professionals and citizens, in Etuope and worldrvide. The use of XML supports the development of media independent contents for multiple target groups. Hditorial and distributive processes are supported by customized central editorial, content managernent and learning manag€ment systems (CMS, LMS). ENN-ICS e-health services are evaluated by selected user groups in North, Middle and Southern Europe using reliable and scientifically accepted validation instruments. The compliance with essential quality requirements and criteria is tested and verified by using online questionnaires based on the DISCERN questionnaire for evaluating patient information, the HON principles for health-related websites and the GMDS catalogue of quality criteria for electronic publications in medicine. The system architecturc and its exemplary applications can be used as a model for future ehealth serviccs dealing with neurological and othcr medical topics. Keywords: sleep disorders, sleep medicine, e-health service, leaming management system, e-learning
I. Introduction Sleep disorders produce high medical and societal costs with significant repercussions on health care budgets and society well being. Although affecting 25oÄ of the general population [ sleep complaints are often disregarded by healthcare systems, physicians, patients and the general public. Their negative irnpact upon mental, psychological and body functions as well as short and long ferm consequences on quality of life and well-being of affected individuals poinf out the need for adequate health education measures in sleep medicine. Taking into account the economic impact in terms of direct and indirect costs in view of high injury and accident risks associated with untreated sleep disorders, the e-health project ENN-ICS (European Neurological
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'Corresponding Author: Brigitte Knobl, Sleep Laboratory, Hospital of Philipps-University, Baldingerstr. D-35033 Marburg. Germany,
[email protected],marburg.de
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Knobl et al. / ^ENtr-/CS
Network - Interactive Communication System) considers the relevance and importance of improving sleep in the European population by generating and providing innovative methods for educating and training different target groups 1241. As knowledgeable societies can handle their problerns morc effectively, ENN-ICS intends to build an interface between the scientific community and the clinical practice mediating the scientific state-of-the-art gathered by cunent research results in the field of sleep medicine. Its stategical concept implies disease prevention by providing essential information to citizens and patients. Nevcrtheless, its main focus is on educational aspects placing emphasis on e-training and e-learning systems. ENN-ICS products - planned partly as paid selice, partly free of charge - will be integrated in seruices at national, European and, in the future, on worldwide level. Multilinguality is realized in the project phase covering the world languages English, German and Porfuguese. The principles "production in one-time charge - multifunctional, multinational, multilingual usability" and "single source - multiple media * multiple usage" are inherent project contributions to primary objectives of EU policy favouring financial discharge in health care systems.
2. Learning platform and web based e-learning infrastructure
Based on open XML (extensible markup language) standards, thc electronic management of medical contents is realized by a central editorial system [5]. This system combines and integrates an Authoring Tool, a Content Management System and a Learning Management System supporting efficient, cost saving multilingual and multimedia production and distribution. ENN-ICS tools, services and products comprise interactive web sites, didactically well-shaped, multimedia-based, self: directed leaming courses, and collaborative group learning in virtual classrooms using synchronous and aslmchronous tele-tutoring techniques. CDs/DVDs and printed media can be orderd at the e-corrmerce centre that will be integrated after successful validation in the phase of market entry. Thc system architecture allows flexible archival storage, re-use, re-configuration, realtime updating and distribution of learning contents. Being edited according to predefined didactical XMl-schema-strucfures, all contents. are delivered to a central content rcpository and then distributed by the XML data based Content Management System (CMS) to offline and online interfaces giving access to learners and interested users. Modifications referring to editions, revisions and translations are performed at the central editorial system. This central editing and content configuration process is
the pre-condition for the easy use of multiple publishing functionalities such as generating HTML files for web pages and CD/DVD distribution or PDF files for electronic or traditional print media (fig. 1).
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!'igure 1: Architcclure of the electronic management and distribution of contents[61
Web based training (WBT) is supported by the leaming lnanagement systcm (LMS) offering essential functionalities such as learners enrolment'in courses, learners progress data management, synchronous and asynchronous communication tools for involvecl learners and peers, evaluation by tutors as well as tutor acces$ to course statistics.
The ENN-ICS web portal (www,ennics,org) is configurated as universal interface offcring access to all services and tools. Project partners have access to a password restrictäd working area during the project phase. Authors and editors will find access to the CMS. users and leamers to the LMS and to onlinc evaluation questionnaires, clients to products offered by thc e-cofirnlerce centre, and citizens and patients to general information on sleep disorders (fig- 2).
Figure 2: 6'.\ft:-/CS v,eb portal ofering inrerl'aces to the pa.sst+tord restricted t'orking arca, C MS,the
LM,S. cval uat ion quest ittrutaire.t and e'c
