Rapid scale-up of COVID-19 training for frontline health workers in 11 African countries

Abstract

Background The global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus highlights both the importance of frontline healthcare workers (HCW) in pandemic response and their heightened vulnerability during infectious disease outbreaks. Adequate preparation, including the development of human resources for health (HRH) is essential to an effective response. ICAP at Columbia University (ICAP) partnered with Resolve to Save Lives and MOHs to design an emergency training initiative for frontline HCW in 11 African countries, using a competency-based backward-design approach and tailoring training delivery and health facility selection based on country context, location and known COVID-19 community transmission. Methods Pre- and post-test assessments were conducted on participants completing the COVID-19 training. Parametric and non-parametric methods were used to examine average individual-level changes from pre- to post-test, and compare performance between countries, cadres, sex and facility types. A post-evaluation online training survey using Qualtrics was distributed to assess participants’ satisfaction and explore training relevance and impact on their ability to address COVID-19 in their facilities and communities. Results A total of 8797 HCW at 945 health facilities were trained between June 2020 and October 2020. Training duration ranged from 1 to 8 days (median: 3 days) and consisted of in person, virtual or self guided training. Of the 8105 (92%) HCW working at health facilities, the majority (62%) worked at secondary level facilities as these were the HF targeted for COVID-19 patients. Paired pre- and post-test results were available for 2370 (25%) trainees, and 1768 (18%) participants completed the post-evaluation training survey. On average, participants increased their pre- to post-test scores by 15 percentage points (95% CI 0.14, 0.15). While confidence in their ability to manage COVID-19 was high following the training, respondents reported that lack of access to testing kits (55%) and PPE (50%), limited space in the facility to isolate patients (45%), and understaffing (39%) were major barriers. Conclusion Ongoing investment in health systems and focused attention to health workforce capacity building is critical to outbreak response. Successful implementation of an emergency response training such as this short-term IPC training initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, requires speed, rigor and flexibility of its design and delivery while building on pre-existing systems, resources, and partnerships.

Evaluation of a continuing professional development strategy on COVID-19 for 10 000 health workers in Ghana: a two-pronged approach

“…3 Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. 4 Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana. 5 University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.…”

“…COVID-19 has created an unprecedented crisis worldwide, highlighting that a well-trained health workforce who can continuously update their skills in response to new pathogens and emergencies is imperative to a population's health [1][2][3][4]. However, health worker education in sub-Saharan Africa still faces numerous challenges that limit progress toward provision of quality care and attainment of Sustainable Development Goal-3 (Good Health and Well-being).…”

Correction: Rapid scale-up of COVID-19 training for frontline health workers in 11 African countries

“…Following publication of the original article [ 1 ], the authors identified an error in the author name of Michelle Poimboeuf. The incorrect author name is: Michelle Poimbouef The correct author name is: Michelle Poimboeuf …”

Digital nursing promotion has increased ethics digital literacy: Program improvement

“…Digital-based education can be conducted through websites, e-learning, webinars, or even material sharing through mobile communication media or social media. [13][14][15] This competency improvement was very much needed at the beginning of the pandemic because the new disease resulted in many gaps in knowledge, including how to treat patients, how to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), how to reduce virus transmission, and how to improve physical and psychosocial endurance. Digital-based education is widely carried out in the era of COVID-19, considering that the workload of nurses is growing along with the increase in the number of patients, making conventional training activities difficult to carry out.…”