title: Efficacy and acceptability of an acute illness management course delivered to staff and students in Uganda by staff from the UK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent reviews report that healthcare professionals have limited training in managing acutely ill patients and that significant gains could be made in low-income countries by focussing on care of the critically ill. We aimed to determine if a UK-developed acute illness management course (AIM) was acceptable to staff and students in a low-income country and if it improved their knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 188 students and staff attended one of 8 one-day courses teaching a systematic approach to the recognition, assessment and management of acutely ill patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A pre and post course test of knowledge was completed by 146/188 participants (77.7%) with a significant (p<0.001) increase in knowledge post course. Median increases in percentage scores by professional group ranged from 16-24%. A questionnaire about their experiences of the course and their intentions to use the AIM approach was completed by 81/188 participants (43.1%). The course was acceptable and participants indicated a high level of intention to use the approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A UK-developed acute illness management course was acceptable in a low-income country and delivered significant increases in knowledge and a high intention to change practice. Future research must focus on understanding the implementation of education into clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Medical School, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK lucie.byrne-davis@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Byrne-Davis
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of South Manchester Academy, Education & Research Centre, UHSM, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Slattery
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of South Manchester Academy, Education & Research Centre, UHSM, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT.
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whiteside
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, PO Box 166, Gulu, Northern Uganda.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: North Western Deanery, 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester, M1 3BN, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu, Northern Uganda.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onyachi
authors.affiliation: Greater Manchester Critical Care Skills Institute, Trafford General Hospital, Moorside Road, Davyhulme, Manchester, M41 5SL, UK.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Manchester Medical School, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of South Manchester Academy, Education & Research Centre, UHSM, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, PO Box 166, Gulu, Northern Uganda.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Surgenor
authors.affiliation: Health Education North West, 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester, M1 3BN, UK.
authors.forename: Ged
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D014454:Uganda
keywords: Critical care; Developing countries; Education; Uganda