Training Health Professionals in Africa
Author Information
Author(s): Valéry Ridde, Pierre Fournier, Baya Banza, Caroline Tourigny, Dieudonné Ouédraogo
Primary Institution: Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal
Hypothesis
Can a master's-degree programme in population and health improve evaluation skills among health professionals in francophone Africa?
Conclusion
The study highlights the effectiveness of skills-based teaching in improving evaluation competencies among health professionals in Africa.
Supporting Evidence
- Students reported a significant increase in their mastery of evaluation competences after the course.
- The evaluation course received high satisfaction scores from students.
- Skills-based teaching methods were well-received and effective in the African context.
Takeaway
This study shows that teaching health professionals how to evaluate programs helps them learn important skills that they can use in their jobs.
Methodology
The study used a pretest/post-test design to assess competence acquisition among two cohorts of health professionals over a four-week course.
Potential Biases
Potential social desirability bias in self-reported evaluations.
Limitations
Small sample sizes may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Cohort 1: 17 students (9 men, 8 women) from 8 West African countries; Cohort 2: 19 students (11 men, 8 women) from 11 countries.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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