International Laboratory Branch (ILB), Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA.
African Center for Integrated Laboratory Training at National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2021 Jan 6;21(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-06005-8.
In sub-Saharan Africa, there is dearth of trained laboratorians and strengthened laboratory systems to provide adequate and quality laboratory services for enhanced HIV control. In response to this challenge, in 2007, the African Centre for Integrated Laboratory Training (ACILT) was established in South Africa with a mission to train staffs from countries with high burdens of diseases in skills needed to strengthen sustainable laboratory systems. This study was undertaken to assess the transference of newly gained knowledge and skills to other laboratory staff, and to identify enabling and obstructive factors to their implementation.
We used Kirkpatrick model to determine training effectiveness by assessing the transference of newly gained knowledge and skills to participant's work environment, along with measuring enabling and obstructive factors. In addition to regular course evaluations at ACILT (pre and post training), in 2015 we sent e-questionnaires to 867 participants in 43 countries for course participation between 2008 and 2014. Diagnostics courses included Viral Load, and systems strengthening included strategic planning and Biosafety and Biosecurity. SAS v9.44 and Excel were used to analyze retrospective de-identified data collected at six months pre and post-training.
Of the 867 participants, 203 (23.4%) responded and reported average improvements in accuracy and timeliness in Viral Load programs and to systems strengthening. For Viral Load testing, frequency of corrective action for unsatisfactory proficiency scores improved from 57 to 91%, testing error rates reduced from 12.9% to 4.9%; 88% responders contributed to the first national strategic plan development and 91% developed strategies to mitigate biosafety risks in their institutions. Key enabling factors were team and management support, and key obstructive factors included insufficient resources and staff's resistance to change.
Training at ACILT had a documented positive impact on strengthening the laboratory capacity and laboratory workforce and substantial cost savings. ACILT's investment produced a multiplier effect whereby national laboratory systems, personnel and leadership reaped training benefits. This laboratory training centre with a global clientele contributed to improve existing laboratory services, systems and networks for the HIV epidemic and is now being leveraged for COVID-19 testing that has infected 41,332,899 people globally.
在撒哈拉以南非洲地区，缺乏训练有素的化验员和强化的实验室系统，无法提供充足且高质量的实验室服务，从而加强艾滋病毒的防控工作。为了应对这一挑战，2007 年，非洲综合实验室培训中心（ACILT）在南非成立，其使命是培训受疾病负担影响较大国家的工作人员，使其掌握加强可持续实验室系统所需的技能。本研究旨在评估新知识和技能向其他实验室工作人员的转移情况，并确定其实施的有利和不利因素。
我们使用 Kirkpatrick 模型通过评估新获得的知识和技能在参与者工作环境中的转移情况，以及测量有利和不利因素，来确定培训效果。除了在 ACILT 进行常规课程评估（培训前后）之外，我们还在 2015 年向 43 个国家的 867 名参加 2008 年至 2014 年期间课程的人员发送了电子问卷。诊断课程包括病毒载量，系统强化包括战略规划和生物安全与生物安保。使用 SAS v9.44 和 Excel 分析了培训前六个月和培训后六个月收集的回顾性、去识别数据。
在 867 名参与者中，有 203 名（23.4%）做出了回应，并报告说在病毒载量方案和系统强化方面的准确性和及时性均有所提高。对于病毒载量检测，不满意的熟练程度评分的纠正措施频率从 57%提高到 91%，检测错误率从 12.9%降低到 4.9%；88%的回应者为第一个国家战略计划的制定做出了贡献，91%的人制定了减轻机构内生物安全风险的策略。关键的有利因素是团队和管理支持，关键的不利因素包括资源不足和工作人员对变革的抵制。
ACILT 的培训对加强实验室能力和实验室工作人员队伍产生了有记录的积极影响，并带来了大量的成本节约。ACILT 的投资产生了乘数效应，使国家实验室系统、人员和领导层都从培训中受益。这个拥有全球客户群的实验室培训中心为改善现有的实验室服务、系统和网络以应对艾滋病毒疫情做出了贡献，目前正在利用该中心进行新冠病毒检测，目前全球已有 41332899 人感染。
