Sexually transmitted infection (STI) management is considered rudimentary among rural medical practitioners (RMPs) in Bangladesh. We sought to understand the level of knowledge and skills in STI management and to asse...Sexually transmitted infection (STI) management is considered rudimentary among rural medical practitioners (RMPs) in Bangladesh. We sought to understand the level of knowledge and skills in STI management and to assess the impact of a two-day training orientation among RMPs in Tangail district. Data were collected through a baseline survey of 225 practicing RMPs in the study area and a three-month follow-up survey of 99 RMPs who participated in a two-day STI/HIV orientation training. The level of formal training among RMPs ranged from none (22.7%), to paramedical training (14.7%) and local medical assistant training (62.6%). The baseline survey revealed a low level of STI/HIV knowledge and misconceptions about the transmission of STI/HIV among RMPs. RMPs mostly prescribed first line antibiotics for treatment of common reproductive tract infections (RTIs) including STIs, but they rarely prescribed the correct dosages according to the national RTI/STI management guidelines. Only 3% of RMPs were able to correctly answer all four HIV transmission (unprotected sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, needle sharing and mother to child transmission) questions at baseline, while 94.9% of RMPs answered all four correctly at three months following the training (p = 0.001). Only 10% of RMPs reported suggesting the recommended drug (azithromycin) and only 2% mentioned about the recommended dosage (2 gm single dose) for the treatment of urethritis/cervicitis;compared to 49.5% suggested azithromycin at follow-up with 39.4% mentioned the recommended 2 gm single dose (p = 0.001). Our study found low level of knowledge and poor practices related RTI/STI management among RMPs. Short orientation training and education intervention shown promise to increase knowledge and management skills for RTIs/STIs.展开更多
The migration of health professionals from low- and middle-income to high-income countries has received much attention amongst the global health community as an important factor influencing health care systems. There ...The migration of health professionals from low- and middle-income to high-income countries has received much attention amongst the global health community as an important factor influencing health care systems. There is however, much less dialogue about internationally trained health professionals who are not able to practice their professions in their countries of destination, a phenomenon labelled as “brain waste”. It has been shown that the integration of internationally trained health professionals in their country of destination is hindered due to inadequate language skills, a lack of local work experience, cultural incompetency, and barriers to the recognition of credentials from foreign academics and professionals. To maximize gains from migration of health professionals and to minimize the negative impacts, we need policies with proper guidelines for practical strategies to better integrate health professional immigrants into the workforce of destination countries. These policies and action plans should also foster healthcare system capacity building and appropriate compensation in low- and middle-income展开更多
文摘Sexually transmitted infection (STI) management is considered rudimentary among rural medical practitioners (RMPs) in Bangladesh. We sought to understand the level of knowledge and skills in STI management and to assess the impact of a two-day training orientation among RMPs in Tangail district. Data were collected through a baseline survey of 225 practicing RMPs in the study area and a three-month follow-up survey of 99 RMPs who participated in a two-day STI/HIV orientation training. The level of formal training among RMPs ranged from none (22.7%), to paramedical training (14.7%) and local medical assistant training (62.6%). The baseline survey revealed a low level of STI/HIV knowledge and misconceptions about the transmission of STI/HIV among RMPs. RMPs mostly prescribed first line antibiotics for treatment of common reproductive tract infections (RTIs) including STIs, but they rarely prescribed the correct dosages according to the national RTI/STI management guidelines. Only 3% of RMPs were able to correctly answer all four HIV transmission (unprotected sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, needle sharing and mother to child transmission) questions at baseline, while 94.9% of RMPs answered all four correctly at three months following the training (p = 0.001). Only 10% of RMPs reported suggesting the recommended drug (azithromycin) and only 2% mentioned about the recommended dosage (2 gm single dose) for the treatment of urethritis/cervicitis;compared to 49.5% suggested azithromycin at follow-up with 39.4% mentioned the recommended 2 gm single dose (p = 0.001). Our study found low level of knowledge and poor practices related RTI/STI management among RMPs. Short orientation training and education intervention shown promise to increase knowledge and management skills for RTIs/STIs.
文摘The migration of health professionals from low- and middle-income to high-income countries has received much attention amongst the global health community as an important factor influencing health care systems. There is however, much less dialogue about internationally trained health professionals who are not able to practice their professions in their countries of destination, a phenomenon labelled as “brain waste”. It has been shown that the integration of internationally trained health professionals in their country of destination is hindered due to inadequate language skills, a lack of local work experience, cultural incompetency, and barriers to the recognition of credentials from foreign academics and professionals. To maximize gains from migration of health professionals and to minimize the negative impacts, we need policies with proper guidelines for practical strategies to better integrate health professional immigrants into the workforce of destination countries. These policies and action plans should also foster healthcare system capacity building and appropriate compensation in low- and middle-income
