Methods and Measures to Assess Health Care Provider Behavior and Behavioral Determinants in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health: A Rapid Review

Abstract

This rapid review identified opportunities and gaps in measurement of health care provider behavior by focusing on domains that correspond to factors that influence provider behavior and service provision and incorporate elements beyond provider competency and skills.n Of the studies included in this review, 65% focused on providers' ability (knowledge, skills, and access to clinical training); 70% focused on predisposing factors (attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions); 57% focused on enabling factors (resources and skills required to make behavioral changes); and 36% focused on reinforcing factors (e.g., peer support and supervisor feedback). n Most studies did not test associations between behavioral determinants and provider behaviors.

A qualitative exploration of how a community engagement approach influences community and health worker perceptions related to family planning service delivery in Togo

“…In addition, while the current study provides a qualitative exploration of a community engagement approach and its perceived effectiveness on FP programs and services, findings related to providers motivation and attitudes were limited. Incorporating quantitative measures that serve to evaluate provider motivation, attitudes towards community members, self-efficacy, and social support would have strengthened the study ( 41 , 42 ). More evidence is needed from the francophone West Africa region to quantitatively assess the effect of these approaches including the development and utilization of validated measures that establish linkages between community participation, empowerment, and quality of care ( 43 – 47 ).…”

Results From a Multimethod Exploratory Scale Development Process to Measure Authoritarian Provider Attitudes in Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo

“…[35][36][37] Recent strides have been made in testing multipronged strategies to change HCP attitudes and beliefs to be less biased against youth and adolescents seeking FP services. 17 However, a recent rapid review of measurement of provider behavior and behavioral determinants found that most provider behavior change interventions rely heavily on training as an intervention for behavior change, 38 even though mental schemas that manifest in attitudes may be less easily changed by training alone. 8 Furthermore, trainings and values clarification exercises tend to focus on attitudes specific to health areas, such as attitudes toward FP methods or client restrictions to FP services.…”