Kobashi Y, Saeki K, Tsubokura M, Srou L, Prum T, Kuratani N, Ishii T, Sakisaka K. Surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff and community health workers in rural Cambodia: a descriptive study for workforce improvement.
J Rural Med 2020;
15:57-62. [PMID:
32269641 PMCID:
PMC7110098 DOI:
10.2185/jrm.2019-016]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The surgical workforce needs to at least double by 2030. To
increase the workforce, training for non-physician healthcare professionals and community
health workers (CHWs) in rural areas is promising to decrease the numbers of untreated
surgical patients. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted on surgical activities of
non-physician healthcare professionals and CHWs in rural Cambodia. We sought to measure
the level of knowledge of surgical symptoms, and identify factors associated with it. A
questionnaire survey was administered to people in rural areas of Kratie Province to
determine their knowledge of surgical symptoms, and to strengthen the surgical workforce
among medical staff and CHWs.
Patient/Materials and Methods: To evaluate the knowledge of surgical
symptoms among medical staff and CHWs, a self-reported questionnaire was administered to
medical staff, CHWs, and villagers in a rural area of Kratie province, Cambodia. The
rating score of the number of correct answers among medical staff, CHWs, and villagers was
set as the primary outcome.
Results: A total of 91 participants, including 31 medical staff, 24 CHWs,
and 36 villagers, completed the survey. The median scores for knowledge of symptoms
indicative of surgery were 8 (7–8) [median (interquartile range)] in medical staff, 8
(7–8.5) in CHWs, and 8.5 (8–9) in villagers. There was no significant difference in the
scores of surgical symptoms among each of the occupational groups. The group of people who
recognized low subjective knowledge of surgical symptom by themselves had significantly
higher objective score of knowledge of surgical symptom.
Conclusion: Knowledge of surgical symptoms among medical staff and CHWs was
inadequate. To at least double the surgical workforce by 2030 successfully, accurate
evaluation and improvement of surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff in rural
areas is crucial.
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