Authors: Lutalo,Ibrahim;Schneider,Gisela;Weaver,Marcia;Oyugi,Jessica;Sebuyira,Lydia;Kaye,Richard;Lule,Frank;Namagala,Elizabeth;Scheld,W.; McAdam, Keith; Sande, Merle
This study sought to identify task shifting (from doctors to clinical officers, nurses and midwives) and assess the antiretroviral therapy training needs among clinicians to whom tasks have shifted.
Methods: The Infectious Diseases Institute, in collaboration with the Ugandan Ministry of Health, surveyed health professionals and heads of antiretroviral therapy clinics at a stratified random sample of 44 health facilities accredited to provide this therapy. A sample of 265 doctors, clinical officers, nurses and midwives reported on tasks they performed, previous human immunodeficiency virus training, and self assessment of knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus and antiretroviral therapy.
Conclusion: The paper remarks that 41% of the health professionals (nurses, midwives, and clinical officers) to whom the task was shifted/ were prescribing ART drugs/ had not been trained in initiating ART. The paper concludes training initiatives should be an integral part of the support for task shifting and ensure that antiretroviral therapy is used correctly and that toxicity or drug resistance do not reverse accomplishments to date.
Remark: the sample may not be representative of the total population of health professionals. Nevertheless, where task shifting is implemented, for example in curative care which is much in demand, the paper draws a lesson that proper training should be provided alongside.
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Resource Topic: Community Health Workers/Volunteers, HIV and AIDS, Training
Resource Type: Journal articles, Research
Year: 2009
Region:
Country: Uganda
Publisher May Restrict Access: No