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Training Packages and Patient Management Tools for Healthcare Staff Working with Small, Nutritionally At-Risk Infants
Ramona Engler1, Marie McGrath1,2, Marko Kerac1
1London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
Insights
Effective management of child malnutrition requires skilled healthcare workers. Training and management tools are crucial, but current resources need enhancement in counseling, mental health, and practical skills for better infant nutrition outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Skilled healthcare staff are vital for managing child malnutrition, particularly in vulnerable infants under six months.
- Existing training and patient management tools aim to equip healthcare workers with essential knowledge and skills.
- There is a need to evaluate and improve these resources to align with new global guidelines for wasting prevention and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map and analyze globally available training and patient management tools for child malnutrition.
- To identify gaps and areas for improvement in current healthcare worker training programs.
- To inform the development of more effective future strategies and support the implementation of WHO guidelines.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining literature searches with semi-structured key informant interviews.
- The study identified 14 distinct training packages across various healthcare settings (inpatient, outpatient, humanitarian).
- Phenomenological analysis was used to interpret data from interviews with international healthcare staff (n=9).
Main Results:
- Training curricula showed significant variation, particularly in content related to breastfeeding, maternal assessment, mental health, and nutritional status.
- Key informants highlighted deficiencies in counseling skills, practical application time, and effective mental health support delivery.
- Training delivery methods were found to be highly contingent on available resources and the specific operational setting.
Conclusions:
- Future training initiatives must be tailored to specific settings, acknowledging their unique needs, opportunities, and constraints.
- Enhanced focus on breastfeeding support, mental health interventions, and counseling skills is essential for comprehensive care.
- Improving practical training components, incorporating refresher courses, and providing continuous monitoring and support are critical for maintaining high-quality malnutrition services.
Abstract:
Skilled staff are essential for successfully managing child malnutrition, especially when dealing with small, nutritionally at-risk infants aged under 6 months. Training and patient management tools provide healthcare workers with core knowledge, skills, and support. To inform more effective future approaches and support the rollout of new WHO wasting prevention/treatment guidelines, we aimed to map and understand globally available training and patient management tools. In a mixed-methods study, we searched the literature to identify different training packages and management tools and conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with staff working in a variety of internationally organizations and settings. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach. We found 14 different training packages targeting different settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and humanitarian contexts. Curricula varied, especially around breastfeeding and maternal assessment, mental health, and nutritional status. Key informants (n = 9) reported gaps regarding counseling skills, time for practice, and how to effectively provide mental health counseling. Training delivery was highly dependent on resources and setting. In conclusion, future training should consider setting-specific needs, opportunities, and limitations. Emphasis on breastfeeding-support skills, mental health support, and counseling skills is needed. Enhanced practical sessions, refresher trainings, and ongoing monitoring and support are vital to ensure sustained high-quality services.
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