Enhancing the health coverage in India by empowering the corona warriors through educational intervention

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the training program on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) related to prevention and management of COVID-19.Methods: A pre-post study was conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs) attending ten-days online training program from 29 April to 30 November, 2020. A 37-item questionnaire assessing knowledge (26-items), attitude (6-items) and practice (5-itmes) was administered to the participants before and after the training program. Total score of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) was 27, 12 and 20 respectively. Paired t test was used to assess the effect of training on KAP. Association of pre-training KAP with demographic variables was performed using SPSSv-22.Results: A total of 1428 HCWs were trained across 25 states through nine trainings; however, the data was analysed for only 1167 HCWs (response rate: 82%). Mean age of participants was 30.96±6.62 years and 77.29% were females. Mean KAP scores in pre-training were found to be 17.46±3.24 out of 27, 9.94±1.56 out of 12 and 19.01±1.76 out of 20 respectively which significantly increased to 21.28±3.65, 10.35±1.48 and 19.37±1.49 after attending training program. Pre-knowledge score was found to be associated with age, years of experience, geographical location, type of facility, presence of COVID-19 related facilities in the place of working.Conclusions: Comprehensively designed training program enhanced the knowledge about prevention and management of COVID-19 in HCWs and also motivated them to maintain an optimistic attitude and good practices while managing the patients.

Medical education in post-pandemic times: Online or offline mode of learning?

“…[ 35 ] Thus, online mode can also be used to build capacities and improve skills by developing specialist expertise among primary healthcare physicians, eventually resulting in improved access to specialty care in remote locations. [ 15 ] Thus, for online mode to be successful, instructors and organizers need to improve the practical knowledge of the learners by the integration of technical modalities such as virtual simulation technologies and computer-based models of real-life processes to increase the satisfaction of the learner.…”

“…[ 14 ] The years of experience was divided as (i) less than 5 years and (ii) 5 years and more. [ 15 ] Satisfaction was considered if the score was ≥35 considering the satisfaction to a mode of learning to be 67% in the previous study. [ 16 ] The training attended was recoded as yes if the participants has attended the training within 6 months to 2 years whereas it was recoded as no if the participants had never attended such a course.…”