Looking for sufficient change: Evaluation of counsellor training for STI syndromic management in India

Melita Vaz, Nisha Kadyan, Sumitha Chalil, Turlapati L.N. Prasad and Aman Kumar Singh

Evaluation and Program Planning, 2016, vol. 58, issue C, 141-151

Abstract: In India, public health care of Sexually Transmitted Infections is delivered through Designated STI/RTI Clinics (DSRCs) using syndromic management. This paper describes efforts, over three years, to improve in-service training for counsellors positioned at DSRCs—using a data approach. The programme managers realised, through rigorous monitoring of initial induction training reports that, while knowledge and attitudes of most trainees had improved as evident from t-tests, at least one-quarter scored worse on post-training assessments (n=859). Therefore, they undertook a survey using a competency approach to diagnose what critical competencies are influenced through training: counselling skills, risk reduction suggestions, labelling male and female anatomy, record-keeping and STI patient education (n=132). Survey results demonstrated that trainees failed to pass a two-thirds cutoff score in most competencies. These findings led the programme managers to modify training and implement tighter quality measures. In the second round of training – refresher training – outcomes on competency assessments before and after training showed more acceptable performance (n=833). The paper describes how programme managers, after an acceptance of such initial short-comings, developed customized assessments when literature provided limited guidance and how they worked to achieve change that was acceptable for programme needs.

Keywords: Counsellor training; Training evaluation; Competency assessment; STI syndromic management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:epplan:v:58:y:2016:i:c:p:141-151

DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2016.06.004

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