title: [Sepsis - Knowledge of non-physician personnel in Africa. A cross-sectional study in Malawian district hospitals].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malawi has one of the worst human resource situations in the world and each clinically working doctor has to serve around 50,000 patients. There are almost no Malawian specialists physicians so that in the district hospitals it is usually non-medical staff (e.g. anesthesia clinical officer) who have the responsibility for severely sick patients with sepsis. At the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital we have organized different courses over the years to support these colleagues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous questionnaires with 10 multiple choice and 4 feedback-related questions were distributed to 115 participants in order to achieve an overview of the basic knowledge related to sepsis in the Malawian setting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 64.2 % of the questions were answered correctly with only minor differences between the 4 groups of participants from different professional backgrounds. Despite a relatively good knowledge in practical therapy the question concerning the therapeutic strategies of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign obtained the worst score with 6 %. After the course there was a 17 % increase in correctly answered questions. Besides an overview over the diagnostic and therapeutic situation for sepsis in the districts we received suggestions and critical comments for a better adjustment of our courses towards the reality of rural district hospitals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare workers in Malawi are not aware of key recommendations of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. Guidelines have to be adapted to the specific healthcare structures in underdeveloped countries. We realized the wish and the desire of the participants for more training and more courses in Malawi. In order to be able to support these needs we would like to invite cooperation from interested institutions and colleagues for a special sepsis course on the occasion of the annual World Sepsis Days.
authors: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Ginney Corner, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Peltola
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Goddia
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Namboya
authors: F M
authors: FM
authors: Brunkhorst
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pollach
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D008295:Malawi; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
references: Trop Med Int Health. 2004 Aug;9(8):928-34
references: 15304000
references: Crit Care. 2011;15(1):R10
references: 21219619
references: Malawi Med J. 2011 Mar;23(1):11-5
references: 23638249
references: Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2011 Sep;12(5):494-503
references: 21897156
references: Int J Infect Dis. 2001;5(2):63-9
references: 11468099
references: Hum Resour Health. 2007 Apr 13;5:10
references: 17433100
references: J Infect. 2001 Jan;42(1):44-9
references: 11243753
references: Malawi Med J. 2006 Dec;18(4):206-25
references: 27529012
references: Lancet Infect Dis. 2010 Jun;10(6):417-32
references: 20510282
references: Crit Care Med. 2004 Mar;32(3):858-73
references: 15090974
references: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1996;55(1 Suppl):66-70
references: 8702040