Introduction
According to Lundvall and Borras (1999), the global on-going revolution in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has given rise to a learning economy wherein the capability to learn how to create new knowledge and adapt to changing conditions now determines the performance of individuals, institutions, regions, and countries. This has led to an increase in the demand for e-learning both in the organizational and the educational sector. Thus, the biggest growth in the Internet, and the area that will prove to be one of the biggest agents of change, will be in e-learning (Rosenberg, 2001). In view of this, the demand for a well-educated workforce has driven many countries to rethink their education systems towards e-learning. E-learning is defined as learning facilitated and supported through the utilization of information and communication technologies (Jenkins & Hanson, 2003). Thus, e-learning includes use of ICTs (e.g., Internet, computer, mobile phone and video) to support teaching and learning activities.
E-learning packages are increasingly being promoted as an effective way of delivering training within the National Health Service in Europe (especially the UK), North America and Australia. One alternative to the traditional lecture format is the use of online technology in continuing nursing education, also known as eLearning continuing nursing education (Gerkin, Taylor, & Weatherby, 2009). This is because technology has revolutionized the ability to facilitate professional clinicians and nursing competence through the use of online education. In fact, the use of e-learning in the staff development environment has only recently been explored (Benson, 2004; Bernhardt, Runyan, Bou-Saada, & Felter, 2003).
This article provides an insight in transfusion medicine and e-learning as a promising way to bridge the existing knowledge gap, especially in the clinical part of transfusion medicine. The chapters 2 and 3 provide the current state of the art of e-learning in transfusion medicine and the clinical use of blood. Chapter 4 describes the development of a post-graduate Master curriculum for leadership in transfusion medicine, focused on management and based on e-learning as a distance learning methodology followed by a real time exposure with additional face-to-face tutorials and a Master thesis. The chapters 5 and 6 analyse the differences in experiences between countries and the approaches to adopt and overcome through proper policy making. The chapters 7 and 8 reflect on the lessons learnt and the future developments in the attempt to bridge the knowledge gap at a global level.