METHODOLOGY

📘 Our methodology document provides a detailed overview of the pedagogical framework, content development process, and assessment strategies followed in this course.

View the methodology paper

Development

The NIMHANS eLearning platform (initiated in Jan 2023) was developed by faculty of the Centre for Addiction Medicine, NIMHANS, in collaboration with NIMHANS Digital Academy and the Virtual Knowledge Network (VKN) ECHO initiative. The platform combines evidence-based knowledge from one of India’s premier national institutes of mental health and neurosciences with practical insights from over a decade of telementoring and capacity building experience through NIMHANS ECHO (running since March 2014).

1000+ Reviews

Content Development Process

The content development process integrates multiple streams of expertise and real-world evidence to ensure relevance, accuracy, and practical utility:

Evidence based

Clinical Evidence
Practice Guidelines
Ongoing literature reive

Clinical Wisdom from Frontline Care

Direct patient care experience
Clinical insights
Multidisciplinary expertise

Real-World Applicability Through NIMHANS ECHO

3,162 case discussions
Insights from 6,612 healthcare professionals
65 completed ECHO programs

User Analytics from Addiction Rx App

Digital health implementation data
Point-of-care decision support patterns
User engagement metrics

Academic Research Excellence

Faculty research expertise
Epidemiological studies
Clinical trials and treatment outcome research

Expert Consensus and Collaborative Refinement

Interprofessional team approach
Stakeholder feedback integration
Iterative improvement cycles

Content Design Principles

Each primer module is structured to maximize accessibility and practical utility:

  • Self-Paced Learning:
  • Bite-Sized Lessons:
  • Multimedia Integration:
  • Progressive Assessment:
  • Competency-Based Certification:
  • Multilingual Access:

Quality Assurance and Updates

The platform maintains rigorous quality standards through:

  • Evidence-Based Foundation:

    All content anchored in current clinical practice guidelines and systematic evidence reviews

  • Peer Review Process:

    Internal review by NIMHANS faculty and external validation through learner feedback

  • Continuous Revision Cycle:

    Regular updates based on emerging evidence, learner analytics, and feedback (satisfaction rates consistently ≥93%)

  • Data-Driven Improvements:

    Platform analytics tracking completion rates, time-on-task, and assessment performance to refine content delivery

  • Accessibility Commitment:

    Nominal fees (₹200-500) ensuring sustainability while maintaining barrier-free access to quality education

Integration with Broader Digital Health Ecosystem

NIMHANS eLearning serves as the foundational knowledge layer within a comprehensive digital health ecosystem:

Pathway to ECHO

Clinical Decision Support

Clinical Decision Support

Clinical Decision Support

Sustainability and Accessibility

The platform operates on a sustainable model combining:

Support from national health programs, government initiatives, and institutional partners

Nominal fees maintaining platform infrastructure and content security

All content development occurs without pharmaceutical or industry funding, ensuring unbiased, evidence-based education

Commitment to knowledge democratization ensuring equal opportunities regardless of geographic location or resource availability

This methodology ensures that NIMHANS eLearning delivers high-quality, evidence-based mental health and addiction medicine education that is accessible, practical, and transformative for healthcare providers across India and beyond.