Health Informatics Training Program in Low and Middle Income Countries

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Medical Education
• Global Health

Background:

• Developing health informatics (HI) capacity is crucial for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Armenia and the Caucasus region lacked specialized HI training programs.
• Establishing effective HI training requires understanding the local context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and evaluation of the first health informatics training program in Armenia and the Caucasus region.
• To assess the feasibility and impact of a multi-component HI training program.
• To highlight the importance of needs assessments for HI program development in LMICs.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive health informatics training program was designed, incorporating a bootcamp, individualized training, a capstone project, and a scholarly project.
• Surveys and qualitative interviews were employed to gather data on the training program's effectiveness and participant satisfaction.
• The program's outcomes were analyzed to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Main Results:

• The health informatics training program received positive feedback and demonstrated promising results.
• Participants reported increased knowledge and skills in health informatics.
• The evaluation indicated the program's potential to enhance health information systems in the region.

Conclusions:

• The developed health informatics training program is a successful model for Armenia and the Caucasus.
• The positive outcomes underscore the value of structured HI education.
• Conducting thorough needs assessments is essential for successful health informatics capacity building in LMICs.