Effectiveness of Training and Perception Toward Mobile Application-based Verbal Autopsy among Sample Registration...

Verbal autopsy (VA) entails speaking to a family member or caretaker of a deceased to document the symptoms the person had and the sequence of events immediately before death. In India, VA is carried out by Sample Registration System (SRS) supervisors and the present study was conducted during a 2-day training of supervisors to evaluate the effectiveness of training and to assess perception toward mobile application-based VA. All training participants were enrolled, and a pre-post-test interventional study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of training. A predesigned questionnaire was administered at the completion of training to assess perception toward mobile application-based VA. Descriptive statistics like percentage and mean (+/-standard deviation) and analytical statistics like Chi-square test and t-test were employed. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant at 95% confidence interval. The majority (69.2%) of SRS supervisors were aged 40 years and above. There was a significant mean difference between pre-test and post-test scores (P < 0.05). Most (51.9%) of the supervisors had overall good perception toward mobile application-based VA. The 2-day training improved the knowledge of SRS supervisors, and for further improving communication skills, professional counsellors may be involved. Mobile application-based VA was well perceived by the supervisors. For ensuring quality data collection, spot checks and refresher training need to be conducted in future.