Outcome Level Assessment of In-Service Training Program in Tigrai Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Despite IST centers reports of programmatic output level results that can be expressed in terms of total number of trained health care workers, and the number of trainings and the training topics covered, there are no empirical evidences that clearly shows the effectiveness of the in-service training program in improving health outcomes, health care workers performance and patient or customer satisfaction. Therefore, it is with this background that TRHB has initiated this rapid outcome level assessment of the IST program being implemented in three partner universities [Mekelle, Adigrat & Aksum universities] of the region.Methods: The assessment followed a facility based cross sectional qualitative study approach to assess and understand the outcome of the in-service trainings provided by universities IST centers in Tigrai region. The sample for this rapid assessment is drawn from 43 public health facilities [35 HCs, 4 general hospitals, & 4 primary hospitals] located in 24 Woredas/Districts of the region and received in-service trainings from the three IST providing universities in Tigrai region. The analysis and interpretation process was completed by using tabulations (to show the frequency distribution of the respondents), by utilizing percentage (in order to compare the data), and qualitative description was dominantly used.Results: The assessment highlighted that majority of the participants [134:84%] reported that the in-service trainings they received were very relevant to their present job function or duty while the remaining [22:14% & 4:3%] of the participants rate the trainings as “somewhat relevant” and “not relevant at all” to their present job function. The average score of the performance rating showed that participants rate themselves that they had a good performance before the training and they considered that the in-service trainings they took resulted in very good performance improvement.Conclusion: The rapid outcome level assessment of the IST program revealed that the program has significantly contributed for improvement in knowledge, skill and attitude among health care and non-health care professionals attended the HIV related IST trainings. However, the assessment due to methodological limitations does not adequately reflect patient level outcomes or improvements.

Keywords:Outcome Level Assessment of In-Service Training