Naslov
Health Worker Training in the Western Balkans: Report of the First Phase of Rapid Scale Up

Autori
Csiszar, J ; Taublib-Kiriat, J ; Teter, C ; Begovac, Josip ; Jevtovic, D ; Lazarevik, V ; Sherer, R.

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, ostalo

Izvornik
3rd IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment / - , 2005

Skup
3rd IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment

Mjesto i datum
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 24.07.2005. - 27.07.2005

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Pozvano predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
Health Worker Training; Western Balkans

Sažetak
Introduction: Though the Balkans is currently a low HIV prevalence region, many factors suggest rapid spread is likely without aggressive action. Health workers are essential to effective HIV prevention, case recognition and referral, optimal care, and de-stigmatization. One goal of Project HOPE&laquo ; s Western Balkans (WB) Program to Fight HIV/AIDS is to upgrade the skills of infectious disease (ID) specialists in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. Methods: We convened 35 ID clinicians from the WB to the University Hospital in Zagreb, Croatia for a six day training comprised of five days of didactic and clinical instruction, and a one day session on the Training of Trainers (TOT) in order to enable participants to train their peers and primary clinicians in their respective countries. ID Experts from Croatia, Serbia, the US, and Project HOPE set the curriculum, agenda, and materials for distribution. Morning didactic sessions were followed by HIV+ patient encounters, role play, and case discussions. English materials were used, and will be translated into national languages in Phase II. Print and electronic materials were distributed. Results: Compared to pre-training scores, mean participant post-training scores on a standardized HIV clinical knowledge survey rose from 36% to 76%. Adherence, stigma reduction, health worker safety, ethics, presentation skills, clinical cases, and care materials were ranked most valuable. The challenge of HIV care appeared to trump potential regional ethnic sensitivities ; strong camaraderie developed among trainees. Conclusions: Rapid scale up of HIV training is an essential component of an effective public health response to the HIV epidemic in low prevalence areas. Engagement of regional experts is critical to serve as a source of expertise and regional consultation upon which to build a system of local community care, as well as de-stigmatization and regional collaboration.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA