Assessing the impact of short-term surgical education on practice: a retrospective study of the introduction of mesh for inguinal hernia repair in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Three physicians who participated in an intensive education course were routinely using mesh for inguinal hernia repair 14 months after the training. This represents a significant change in practice pattern. Complication rates between patients who underwent inguinal hernia repairs with and without mesh were comparable. The present study provides evidence that short-term surgical training initiatives can have a substantial impact on local healthcare practice in resource-limited settings.

The value of a collaborative course for advanced head and neck surgery in East Africa

“…The use of intensive shortterm collaborative courses has reportedly demonstrated long-term benefit with at least one surgical procedure to date. 5 This study offers support for collaborative courses in advanced topics of head and neck surgery as one valuable model. The vast majority of participants of this course indicated improved understanding in all topics covered in the course, with a significant shift in perceived skill level for several of the operations, including total laryngectomy and myocutaneous pectoralis major flaps.…”

Effective Strategies for Global Health Training Programs A Systematic Review of Training Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries

“…Sample sizes ranged from 12 to 12795. Samples included physicians/healthcare workers being trained and clusters of regions where trainings were conducted (Ajuwon et al, 2008;Arreola-Risa et al, 2007;Autry et al, 2013;Baig et al, 2008;Bedada et al, 2015;Brown et al, 2000;Dizon et al, 2014;Dodani et al, 2008;Goodwin et al, 2011;Goudar et al, 2011;Hashmi et al, 2013;Hoban et al, 2013;Husum et al, 2003a;Husum et al, 2003b;Kauye et al, 2014;Kebede et al, 2012;Kulier et al, 2012;Levine et al, 2011;Lewin et al, 2005;Makanjuola et al, 2012;Tomatis et al, 2011;van Heng et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2014;Wee etal., 2011). Intervention duration ranged from one day to three years.…”

“…Out of the 24 articles, four measured knowledge (Ajuwon et al, 2008;Baig et al, 2008;Dodani et al, 2008;Goodwin et al, 2011), eight measured skill (Brown et al, 2000;Goudar et al, 2011;Hashmi et al, 2013;Husum et al, 2003a;Husum et al, 2003b;Kauye et al, 2014;Kebede et al, 2012;Lewin et al, 2005), seven measured knowledge and skill (Autry et al, 2013;Dizon et al, 2014;Hoban et al, 2013;Kulier et al, 2012;Levine et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2014;Wee et al, 2011), two measured mortality and skill (van Heng et al, 2008;Arreola-Risa et al, 2007), one measured knowledge and attitudes (Makanjuola et al, 2012), and two measured knowledge, skill, and attitudes (Kulier et al, 2012;Tomatis et al, 2011). Table 4 provides a comparison of the training methods used in eligible studies.…”

“…Intervention duration ranged from one day to three years. Twelve of the studies were pre-post-test design (Ajuwon et al, 2008;Brown et al, 2000;Dizon et al, 2014;Hashmi et al 2013;Hoban et al, 2013;Husum et al, 2003a;Husum et al, 2003b;Kebede et al, 2012;Levine et al, 2005;Makanjuola et al, 2012;Tomatis et al, 2011;vanHeng et al, 2008), 5 were quasi-experimental design (Arreola-Risa et al, 2007;Baig et al, 2008;Bedada et al, 2015;Dodani et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2014), three were Cluster randomized control trials (Goudar et al, 2011;Kulier et al, 2012;Lewin et al, 2011). 2 were cross-sectional design (Kauye et al, 2014;Wee et al, 2011), 1 randomized control trial (Autry et al, 2013), and 1 prospective comparison study (Goodwin et al, 2011).…”

The East African Training Initiative. A Model Training Program in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine for Low-Income Countries

“…Also, from the inception of the program, a commitment was made to have external faculty on-site in Addis Ababa for the duration of the program. This is the key feature of our program and one that distinguishes it from other attempts at training physicians in SPECIAL ARTICLE low-resource settings through distance learning or short-term, in-country courses (14)(15)(16). We felt that a continual presence was necessary to achieve a high level of competence as well as to model and instill a culture of professionalism in trainees (17)(18)(19).…”