A randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of online continuing education for health professionals to improve the management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

INTERVENTION: The intervention is an eLearning program that will be accessed online for a duration of four weeks. The eLearning program contains an introduction to CFS and seven learning modules (1: Psychoeducation; 2. Activity pacing and graded exercise therapy; 3. Interventions for sleep‐wake cycle disturbance; 4. Interventions of neurocognitive functioning in CFS; 5. Interventions for mood disturbance; 6. Interventions for anxiety; 7. Interventions for coping). Learning activities (e.g., concept maps, free text response questions, fill in the blanks) with feedback regarding responses are embedded within each module to facilitate learning. Each module take approximately 30‐ to 60‐mins to complete. The program has been designed so participants can complete the modules within a time frame of their own choosing (e.g., over multiple sittings if they wish) and are able to revisit completed sections at will. The eLearning software will monitor adherence, time to complete, frequency of visits to the program and participant progress. CONDITION: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Myalgic encephalomyelitis PRIMARY OUTCOME: Participants’ knowledge about CFS and CFS interventions measured at post intervention compared with baseline. Multiple choice and short answer questions, integrated with case vignettes, will test participants’ knowledge about CFS symptoms, differential diagnosis, CFS management strategies and interventions (CBT and GET), and interventions for conditions that commonly arise secondary to fatigue (reduced mood and anxiety). Participants’ self‐reported confidence in their knowledge of CFS and confidence in their clinical skills to implement evidence‐based CFS interventions. This part of the questionnaire requires participants to rate their confidence in their knowledge and clinical skills related to CFS using a 5‐point Likert scale anchored at one end with “not at all confident” and at the other end with “very confident”. Participants’ self‐reported success in treating people with CFS or medically unexplained fatigue. This part of the questionnaire requires participants to rate their level of success in treating people with CFS or medically unexplained fatigue using a 5‐point Likert scale, anchored at one end with “completely unsuccessful” and at the other end with “completely successful”. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Fully registered member of relevant allied health professional body (e.g., Australian Psychological Society, Exercise and Sports Science Association), currently practicing. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Data on adherence to and satisfaction with the education activity will be collected for the education group only. Intervention adherence will be tracked using in‐built features of the online education platform, which will monitor: time spent in total on the activity, time spent on each module of the activity and engagement in integrated formative assessment tasks. Participants will be asked to rate their agreement with a number of statements related to their satisfaction with the online education activity. This will be done using a 5‐point Likert scale anchored at one end with “strongly disagree” and at the other end with “strongly agree”. Open‐ended responses will also be collected. Participants self‐reported portion of clinical practice devoted to people with CFS or medically unexplained fatigue. This part of the questionnaire requires the participant to indicate the percentage of their clinical practice that is devoted to people with CFS or medically unexplained fatigue. The secondary outcome measure will be the retention of knowledge about CFS and CFS interventions at follow‐up, and participants’ self‐reported confidence in their clinical skills, at follow‐up. As with the primary outcome measures, multiple choice and short answer questions, integrated with case vignettes, will test participants’ knowledge about CFS symptoms, differential diagnosis, CFS management strategies and interventions (CBT and GET), and interventions for conditions that commonly arise secondary to fatigue (reduced mood and anxiety). Similarly, participants’ self‐reported confidence in their knowledge of CFS and confidence in their clinical skills to implement evidence‐based CFS interventions will be assessed by a questionnaire requiring them to rate their confidence in their knowledge and clinical skills related to CFS using a 5‐point Likert scale anchored at one end with “not at all confident” and at the other end with “very confident”.