Measuring the outcomes of a comprehensive HIV care course: pilot test at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of the Infectious Diseases Institute's 4-week course for African doctors on comprehensive management of HIV including antiretroviral therapy on four outcomes: (1) clinical skills, (2) clinical activities, (3) monitoring of HIV patients, and (4) training activities


METHODS
Clinical exam at beginning and end of course and at follow-up 3 to 4 months later, and a cross-section telephone survey.


METHODS
Forty-seven doctors attending the course (October 2004, November 2004, March 2005, and April 2005) agreed to participate. A 17-item Clinical Exam Checklist was used to assess clinical skills. A telephone survey was conducted 1 month after the course to collect data in four areas: clinical activities, monitoring of HIV patients, case studies on initiation of ART, and training activities.


RESULTS
The course improved the clinical skills of doctors. Between the beginning and end of the course, their clinical skills improved significantly in 11 of 17 areas (n = 34). Between the end of the course and follow-up, their skills improved significantly in three areas (n = 14). The trainees were practicing HIV care and training. The telephone survey (n = 46) showed that 93% of trainees treated HIV patients, 35% provided training on HIV, and 47% monitored the weight of the last HIV patient treated (patient's weight was a clinical end point to measure health status). At follow-up, everyone provided training and trained an average of 20 people per month.
Weaver
Marcia R
MR
Department of Health Services and International Training and Education Center on HIV, I-TECH, University of Washington, Seattle, 98104, USA. mweaver@u.washington.edu
Nakitto
Cecilia
C
Schneider
Gisela
G
Kamya
Moses R
MR
Kambugu
Andrew
A
Lukwago
Robinah
R
Ronald
Allan
A
McAdam
Keith
K
Sande
Merle A
MA
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D014454:Uganda
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents