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Karoli P, Mayige M, Kagaruki G, Mori A, Macha E, Mutagaywa R, Momba A, Peter H, Willilo R, Chillo P, Banduka A, Sunguya B, Ramaiya K, Majaliwa E, Malangahe S, Nyarubamba R, Mtumbuka E, Mallya E, Soka D, Urasa S, Rutahoile W, Magoma B, Donald E, Mwenesano D, Kilonzo K. Mid-level healthcare workers knowledge on non-communicable diseases in Tanzania: a district-level pre-and post-training assessment. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:612. [PMID: 38725061 PMCID: PMC11084094 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11078-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Over the past two decades, Tanzania's burden of non-communicable diseases has grown disproportionately, but limited resources are still prioritized. A trained human resource for health is urgently needed to combat these diseases. However, continuous medical education for NCDs is scarce. This paper reports on the mid-level healthcare workers knowledge on NCDs. We assessed the knowledge to measure the effectiveness of the training conducted during the initiation of a Package for Essential Management of Severe NCDs (PEN Plus) in rural district hospitals in Tanzania. METHODS The training was given to 48 healthcare employees from Dodoma Region's Kondoa Town Council District Hospital. For a total of five (5) days, a fundamental course on NCDs featured in-depth interactive lectures and practical workshops. Physicians from Tanzania's higher education institutions, tertiary university hospitals, research institutes, and medical organizations served as trainers. Before and after the training, a knowledge assessment comprising 28 questions was administered. Descriptive data analysis to describe the characteristics of the specific knowledge on physiology, diagnosis and therapy of diabetes mellitus, rheumatic fever, heart disease, and sickle cell disease was done using Stata version 17 (STATA Corp Inc., TX, USA). RESULTS Complete assessment data for 42 out of the 48 participants was available. Six participants did not complete the training and the assessment. The mean age of participants was 36.9 years, and slightly above half (52%) were above 35 years. Two-thirds (61.9%) were female, and about half (45%) were nurses. The majority had the experience of working for more than 5 years, and the average was 9.4 years (+/- 8.4 years). Overall, the trainees' average scores improved after the training (12.79 vs. 16.05, p < 0.0001) out of 28 possible scores. Specifically, trainees' average scores were better in treatment than in diagnosis, except for sickle cell disease (1.26 vs. 1.83). Most were not able to diagnose rheumatic heart disease (47.6% able) compared to diabetes mellitus (54.8% able) or sickle cell disease (64.3% able) at baseline. The proportion of trainees with adequate knowledge of the treatment of sickle cell disease and diabetes mellitus was 35% and 38.1%, respectively, and there was a non-statistical difference after training. Those working for less than 5 years had a higher proportion of adequate knowledge (30.8%) compared to their more experienced colleagues (6.9%). After the training, participants' knowledge of NCDs increased by three times (i.e., aPR 3, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.5, and 6.0). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS PEN Plus training improved the knowledge of healthcare workers at Kondoa Town Council District Hospital. Training is especially needed among nurses and those with a longer duration of work. Continuing education for human resources for health on the management of NCDs is highly recommended in this setting.
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Grants
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- 126365 Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA.
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Karoli
- National Institute for Medical Research-Tanzania (NIMR), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Mary Mayige
- National Institute for Medical Research-Tanzania (NIMR), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Gibson Kagaruki
- National Institute for Medical Research-Tanzania (NIMR), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
| | - Amani Mori
- National Institute for Medical Research-Tanzania (NIMR), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Reuben Mutagaywa
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | | | - Pilly Chillo
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Aidan Banduka
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Bruno Sunguya
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Edna Majaliwa
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Tanzania, Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH)
| | | | - Renatus Nyarubamba
- The Tanzania NCD Alliance (TANCDA), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Tanzania Diabetes Association (TDA), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Esther Mtumbuka
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Elizabeth Mallya
- National Institute for Medical Research-Tanzania (NIMR), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Deogratias Soka
- Tanzania Sickle Cell Disease Foundation (TANSCDF),, Sickle Cell Disease Foundation (TANSCDF), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sarah Urasa
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
| | | | | | | | | | - Kajiru Kilonzo
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC), Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
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