Initial Experience and Evaluation of the SATHI Digital Health Assistant Program.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Telehealth
• Health Informatics Training

Background:

• Post-COVID, clinicians face increased workload due to digital technology adoption and telehealth expansion.
• Challenges exist for less tech-savvy clinicians in managing digital data entry and IT systems for remote care.
• A need for skilled support staff in digital health services is evident.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the learning effectiveness of the Digital Health Assistant program using Kirkpatrick's Four Stage Model.
• To assess the program's impact on trainees' confidence and employability in digital health roles.
• To identify challenges and successes of the training program for future improvements.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a novel training program for secondary school graduates as Digital Health Assistants.
• Training focused on simple health procedures and health data entry to support clinicians.
• Evaluation of program effectiveness using Kirkpatrick's Four Stage Model.

Main Results:

• Trainees reported increased confidence in applying learned skills in their careers.
• A significant majority of trainees successfully obtained employment post-training.
• English as the delivery language and internship work timings were identified as challenges.

Conclusions:

• The Digital Health Assistant program demonstrates a viable learning model for addressing human resource gaps in digital health.
• The program's success suggests its adaptability for resource-restricted settings.
• Addressing identified challenges can further enhance the program's effectiveness and scalability.