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09:10 - 09:20
ESPUN S3-2
(O)
IMPROVING UNDERSTANDING OF NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS (NTD) -
PRESENTATION OF AN INTERNET- BASED MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Ingo KRAUSE
1
, Magaretha NILSSON
2
and Iris RÜBBEN
3
1) Wellspect HealthCare Dentsply IH GmbH, Elz, GERMANY - 2) Wellspect HealthCare Dentsply IH AB, 21 Mölndal,
SWEDEN - 3) University Clinic Essen, Urology Department, Essen, GERMANY
PURPOSE
Myelomeningocele (MMC), a neural tube defect (NTD), is one of the most common nonlethal malformations of the
central nervous system with significant lifelong disabilities. With high-resolution ultrasound an accurate diagnosis of
MMC can be made prenatally, which plays a crucial role in parent counseling and pregnancy management. The
management of infants born with MMC depends on understanding how their bladder stores and empties urine. Newborns
and children with MMC are dependent on their parents and health-care professionals to manage bladder management
interventions during early years. The ability of parents to effectively integrate medical recommendations in daily life is
fundamental for intervention success and upper urinary tract protection.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
In medical education, internet-based education for parents and health care providers is still a novelty why a program
was developed describing different clinical characteristics of the whole NTD-spectrum.
RESULTS
The program explains details about neurogenic bladder dysfunction, embryogenetic development and special
neurological features of the disease by using didactical figures and images. In addition to the educational tool, the
program also includes a computer-based MMC information database and instructions on how to use it in different
settings.
CONCLUSIONS
Once implemented in clinical practice, the long term aim of the program is to increase background knowledge for all
parents and health care givers in order to optimize therapy-compliance in each individual patient.