Education: The prevention of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Malawi.
Malawi
Rheumatic heart disease
acute rheumatic fever
education
paediatric cardiology
paediatrics
Journal
Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi
ISSN: 1995-7270
Titre abrégé: Malawi Med J
Pays: Malawi
ID NLM: 9500170
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 2019
09 2019
Historique:
entrez:
17
12
2019
pubmed:
17
12
2019
medline:
7
3
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
With an estimated prevalence of 183,200 cases, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major public health problem in Malawi. However, patients in Malawi with advanced RHD are left with substantial and life-threatening disability because there are no surgical options available in our country at present. In order to tackle this epidemic, it is critical to provide appropriate education and attempt to diagnose the disease earlier. In this study, we aimed to pilot a RHD education program that could be subsequently adopted country-wide. We designed and piloted a RHD educational program targeting health providers at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. This involved three half-day workshops. These workshops were facilitated by a paediatric cardiologist and a paediatric nurse. Tests were administered before and after the workshops; we also provided questionnaires and requested feedback evaluations. A total of sixty-five participants (51 nurses, 3 doctors, 9 clinical officers and 2 unspecified personnel) participated in our workshops. Concerns were voiced and addressed relating to the safety of benzathine penicillin. Post-workshop questionnaires revealed that participants were much more comfortable prescribing or injecting benzathine penicillin after the workshop, as indicated by an improvement in the comfort level from 2.8 to 4.5 in nurses, and from 3.4 to 5 in clinicians (using a Likert scale of 1 to 5, p< 0.01). Pre-test knowledge scores improved from 43.8% to 78.5% (p< 0.01). Overall, the workshops received good feedback with an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 (n=61, range 3-5). Our analysis showed that practical sessions relating to acute rheumatic fever and RHD in Malawi must address the safety and administration of penicillin. Our pilot workshops could serve as the educational backbone for a national RHD prevention program in Malawi.
Sections du résumé
Background
With an estimated prevalence of 183,200 cases, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major public health problem in Malawi. However, patients in Malawi with advanced RHD are left with substantial and life-threatening disability because there are no surgical options available in our country at present. In order to tackle this epidemic, it is critical to provide appropriate education and attempt to diagnose the disease earlier. In this study, we aimed to pilot a RHD education program that could be subsequently adopted country-wide.
Methods
We designed and piloted a RHD educational program targeting health providers at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. This involved three half-day workshops. These workshops were facilitated by a paediatric cardiologist and a paediatric nurse. Tests were administered before and after the workshops; we also provided questionnaires and requested feedback evaluations. A total of sixty-five participants (51 nurses, 3 doctors, 9 clinical officers and 2 unspecified personnel) participated in our workshops.
Results
Concerns were voiced and addressed relating to the safety of benzathine penicillin. Post-workshop questionnaires revealed that participants were much more comfortable prescribing or injecting benzathine penicillin after the workshop, as indicated by an improvement in the comfort level from 2.8 to 4.5 in nurses, and from 3.4 to 5 in clinicians (using a Likert scale of 1 to 5, p< 0.01). Pre-test knowledge scores improved from 43.8% to 78.5% (p< 0.01). Overall, the workshops received good feedback with an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 (n=61, range 3-5).
Conclusion
Our analysis showed that practical sessions relating to acute rheumatic fever and RHD in Malawi must address the safety and administration of penicillin. Our pilot workshops could serve as the educational backbone for a national RHD prevention program in Malawi.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31839892
doi: 10.4314/mmj.v31i3.9
pmc: PMC6895388
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
221-222Informations de copyright
© 2019 The College of Medicine and the Medical Association of Malawi.
Références
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