Community health agents training on hearing health: effectiveness of videoconference.
BACKGROUND
training of Community Health Agents on hearing health through videoconference.


OBJECTIVE
to verify the effectiveness of a training program for community health agents, through videoconference, on child hearing health.


METHODS
participants of the study were 50 professionals who were randomly divided in two groups: 31 community health agents were physically present in the training program and 19 participated via videoconference. Training was provided in eight hours, through classes and using specific material adapted from the Primary ear and hearing care training resource - basic, intermediate and advanced levels for both groups, simultaneously. Training was organized and evaluated according to a previous study.


RESULTS
both groups presented a statistically significant difference when comparing pre and post training performances. However, for the group of community health agents who were physically present during the training program, this difference was higher not only when considering the final total scores but also when looking at the individual topics.


CONCLUSIONS
videoconference was effective as a learning tool for the training of community health agents on child hearing health. However, this instrument should be used as a complementary material to the traditional form of training.
Melo
Tatiana Mendes de
TM
Curso de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade de Guarulhos, Brazil. tati_usp@yahoo.com.br
Alvarenga
Kátia de Freitas
Kde F
Blasca
Wanderléia Quinhoneiro
WQ
Taga
Marcel Frederico de Lima
MF
D000328:Adult; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000193:education*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult