Perceptions of Interns Toward Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) Pre-service Education and Its Impact on Their Clinical Knowledge: A Study at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat.

Objectives The study aims to assess interns' perceptions of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) pre-service education at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). Specifically, it evaluates how IMCI training during phases 2 and 3 influences interns' clinical practice readiness and knowledge acquisition. The findings will inform evidence-based enhancements to IMCI training programs, ensuring they meet interns' educational needs and optimize clinical skills acquisition. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CoMHS) at SQU, Muscat, over a two-month period (September 20, 2023, to November 30, 2023). The questionnaire evaluated interns' sociodemographic factors, perceptions regarding pre-service IMCI training, and IMCI knowledge. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24 (Released 2016; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York) was used to analyze Likert scale responses for frequencies and proportions. Results Out of 103 invited interns, 75 participated in the study, resulting in a response rate of 72.8%. Interns who attended three or more IMCI lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions demonstrated a more advanced understanding of IMCI principles compared to those attending fewer sessions. Overall, 63 (84.0%) interns agreed on the effectiveness of IMCI training, 57 (76.0%) interns acknowledged skill enhancement, and 69 (92.0%) interns perceived its practicality for illness assessment. However, only 60.0% (n=45) felt confident in managing sick children. The knowledge assessment revealed varied understanding of IMCI objectives (82.7%, n=62) and components (61.3% (n=46) to 64.0% (n=48)). Clinical case evaluation showed mixed recognition of clinical features and danger signs of childhood illnesses, while awareness of disease preventability through immunization was generally high, except for tuberculosis (74.7%, n=56) and rotavirus (40.0%, n=30). Conclusion Interns exhibit positive attitudes towards IMCI principles, demonstrating a strong grasp of related concepts through effective case-based question responses. These results highlight the effectiveness of IMCI training in improving interns' understanding of pediatric healthcare principles, with potential implications for enhancing clinical practice and patient care. Future investigations should explore the impact of IMCI training on interns' clinical practice and patient outcomes.