On-line ethics education for occupational therapy clinician–educators: a single-group pre-/post-test study

The impact of training on self-reported performance in reproductive, maternal, and newborn health service delivery among healthcare workers in Tanzania: a baseline- and endline-survey

Background

Delivery of quality reproductive health services has been documented to depend on the availability of healthcare workers who are adequately supported with appropriate training. However, unmet training needs among healthcare workers in reproductive, maternal, and newborn health (RMNH) in low-income countries remain disproportionately high. This study investigated the effectiveness of training with onsite clinical mentorship towards self-reported performance in RMNH among healthcare workers in Mwanza Region, Tanzania.

Methods

The study used a quasi-experimental design with pre-and post-intervention evaluation strategy. The baseline was compared with two endline groups: those with intervention (training and onsite mentorship) and those without. The differences among the three groups in the sociodemographic characteristics were analyzed by using chi-square test for categorical variables, independent-sample t-test for continuous variables and Mann–Whitney U test for ordinal or skewed continuous data. The independent sample t-test was used to determine the effect of the intervention by comparing the computed self-reported performance on RMNH services between the intervention and control groups. The paired-samples t-test was used to measure the differences between before and after intervention groups. Significance was set at a 95% confidence interval with p ≤ 0.05.

Results

The study included a sample of 216 participants with before and after intervention groups comprising of 95 (44.0%) and 121 (56.0%) in the control group. The comparison between before and after intervention groups revealed a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in all the dimensions of the self-reported performance scores. However, the comparison between intervention groups and controls indicated a statistical significant difference on intra-operative care (t = 3.10, df = 216, p = 0.002), leadership skills (t = 1.85, df = 216, p = 0.050), Comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEMONC) (t = 34.35, df = 216, p ≤ 0.001), and overall self-reported performance in RMNH (t = 3.15, df = 216, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

This study revealed that the training and onsite clinical mentorship to have significant positive changes in self-reported performance in a wide range of RMNH services especially on intra-operative care, leadership skills and CEMONC. However, further studies with rigorous designs are warranted to evaluate the long-term effect of such training programs on RMNH outcomes.

Reproductive maternal and newborn health (RMNH) in low- and middle-income countries continue to face critical challenges. Training healthcare workers especially using a combined approach (training followed by immediate clinical mentorship) in RMNH have been documented as an essential strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in low-and middle-income countries closer to those in high-income countries. This study investigated the effectiveness of a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) trainings on performance among healthcare workers in Mwanza Region. The study included a sample of 216 participants with before and after intervention groups comprising of 95 participants and control group comprising of 121 participants. The findings revealed that in comparison between before and after intervention groups all dimensions of the self-reported TNA questionnaire had a statistically significant difference. However, the comparison between intervention and controls groups indicated a statistical significant difference on leadership skills, intra-operative care, Comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEMONC) and overall RMNH self-reported performance. In conclusion, the findings demonstrated that healthcare workers’ self-identified and prioritized training needs that are supported with clinical mentorship results in significant positive changes in performance across a wide range of RMNH tasks. Therefore, conducting TNA that is followed by training and mentorship according to the identified needs among healthcare workers plays a significant role in improving performance on RMNH services among healthcare workers.

A New Online Hands-on Practical Training Method Suitable for COVID-19 Social Distancing Regulations

Online classroom lessons for agricultural and livestock personnel and instructors (animal clinical veterinarians) have been established as alternative ways of learning to allow for the social distancing required to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that emerged and expanded in 2020. However, significant issues remain in developing ways to effectively convey experimental and practical lessons to students. Some of these challenges have been addressed by developing and implementing a new online hands-on practical training method for various veterinary subjects. Currently, online training is limited to watching videos; however, this trial has the potential to provide novel hands-on training online. In our trial, students watched live or asynchronous videos of instructors using a capture board, from which they learned hands-on practices. The learning environment of the students was transmitted by a web camera attached to their PCs and displayed on a large screen visible to the instructor. This enabled the instructor to provide the students with online instructions. In the future, Yamaguchi University's animal welfare philosophy and newly developed alternative online learning methods can be applied to education in other fields.

Knowledge Translation in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: A Citation Analysis of the Knowledge-to-Action Literature

OBJECTIVES

To (1) provide an overview of the use of the Knowledge-to-Action Cycle (KTA) to guide a clinical implementation project; (2) identify activities performed in each phase of the KTA; and (3) provide suggestions to improve KTA activities in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

DATA SOURCES

Google Scholar and PubMed were searched through December 31, 2019.

STUDY SELECTION

Two reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles to identify published studies that used the KTA to implement a project.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers examined full-text articles. Data extraction included activities performed in each phase of the KTA, including measurements used to evaluate the project's effectiveness.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Commonly performed KTA activities were identified and country of study, area of rehabilitation, and other factors related to the use of the KTA in rehabilitation were described. A total of 46 articles that met the study's inclusion criteria provided an overview of the use of the KTA in rehabilitation. Strengths and weaknesses of the articles are discussed and recommendations for improved KTA use are provided.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of evidence-based practice requires focused engineering and efforts. This review provides an overview of the knowledge translation activities occurring in physical medicine and rehabilitation and considerations to improve knowledge translation research and practice.