Enhancing Health Workers' Skills through Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) Training
Keywords:
IMCI, Health Workers, Training, Childhood Illness, Interventional Studies, Clinical TrialsAbstract
Introduction:
The global challenge of childhood illnesses necessitates effective strategies for improving health worker performance. Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) training has been proposed as a key intervention to enhance the skills of health workers in diagnosing, treating, and preventing childhood diseases. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of IMCI training on health workers' skills, focusing on recent interventional studies and clinical trials.
Methods:
A comprehensive search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus, focusing on interventional studies and clinical trials from the last years up to 2022. Inclusion criteria targeted studies evaluating IMCI training outcomes on health workers' clinical skills, with a strict exclusion of non-interventional studies, reviews, and non-English literature. The selection process involved a two-stage screening, first by titles and abstracts, then full texts, ensuring relevance and quality.
Results:
Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, revealing a wide range of sample sizes and intervention types, from traditional face-to-face training to digital learning platforms. Significant improvements were observed post-training, including a 30% to 80% increase in diagnostic accuracy and a 40% improvement in adherence to treatment guidelines. Digital training methods showed a 30% improvement in clinical decision-making skills. However, the sustainability of these improvements was variable, indicating a need for ongoing training support.
Conclusions:
IMCI training significantly enhances health workers' skills in managing childhood illnesses, with both traditional and digital interventions proving effective. The findings support the integration of IMCI training into health worker education programs to improve child health outcomes. Future research should focus on the long-term sustainability of these training effects and the potential of digital platforms to support ongoing skill development.
