OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of an educational program in visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical cancer screening among healthcare providers in 2 low-resource countries. METHODS: A cohort of multidisciplinary healthcare workers in Uganda and El Salvador were recruited to the study. A pretest was administered before the intervention of a 5-day educational program on VIA. A posttest was performed immediately after the educational program and again at a 6-month follow-up visit to assess retention of knowledge. RESULTS: In total, 42 (93%) of the healthcare workers who participated in the educational program completed the initial posttest evaluation, and 18 (40%) healthcare workers completed the 6-month follow-up evaluation. Mean test scores increased after participation in the training session (62% versus 81%; P<0.001). The self-reported comfort level for identifying cellular abnormalities also increased (2.1 versus 3.3; P<0.001). At 6-month follow-up, the mean test score remained higher than pretest scores (79% versus 57%; P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the initial and 6-month posttest scores (80% versus 79%; P=0.20). CONCLUSION: The educational program in VIA provided healthcare workers with the tools potentially to decrease the morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer in the 2 low-resource countries.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of an educational program in visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical cancer screening among healthcare providers in 2 low-resource countries. METHODS: A cohort of multidisciplinary healthcare workers in Uganda and El Salvador were recruited to the study. A pretest was administered before the intervention of a 5-day educational program on VIA. A posttest was performed immediately after the educational program and again at a 6-month follow-up visit to assess retention of knowledge. RESULTS: In total, 42 (93%) of the healthcare workers who participated in the educational program completed the initial posttest evaluation, and 18 (40%) healthcare workers completed the 6-month follow-up evaluation. Mean test scores increased after participation in the training session (62% versus 81%; P<0.001). The self-reported comfort level for identifying cellular abnormalities also increased (2.1 versus 3.3; P<0.001). At 6-month follow-up, the mean test score remained higher than pretest scores (79% versus 57%; P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the initial and 6-month posttest scores (80% versus 79%; P=0.20). CONCLUSION: The educational program in VIA provided healthcare workers with the tools potentially to decrease the morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer in the 2 low-resource countries.
Authors: Lauren G Johnson; Allison Armstrong; Caroline M Joyce; Anne M Teitelman; Alison M Buttenheim Journal: Implement Sci Date: 2018-02-09 Impact factor: 7.327
Authors: R Rahman; M D Clark; Z Collins; F Traore; E M Dioukhane; H Thiam; Y Ndiaye; E L De Jesus; N Danfakha; K E Peters; T Komarek; A M Linn; P E Linn; K E Wallner; M Charles; M Hasnain; C E Peterson; J A Dykens Journal: Glob Health Action Date: 2019 Impact factor: 2.640