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. 2021 Jul 28;21(1):406.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-021-02847-w.

Outcomes of blended learning for capacity strengthening of health professionals in Guinea

Tamba Mina Millimouno  1 , Alexandre Delamou  2   3 , Karifa Kourouma  2 , Jean Michel Kolié  2 , Abdoul Habib Béavogui  2 , Sara Roegiers  4 , Marlon Garcia  4 , Carlos Kiyan Tsunami  5 , Stefaan Van Bastelaere  6 , Wim Van Damme  4 , Thérèse Delvaux  4
Affiliations

Outcomes of blended learning for capacity strengthening of health professionals in Guinea

Tamba Mina Millimouno et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Quality human resources constitute an essential pillar of an effective health system. This paper analyzes the outcomes of blended learning for post-Ebola capacity strengthening of health professionals in Guinea.

Methods: Two courses lasting 3 months each (7-8 modules) were developed and implemented: one in Primary Health Care (eSSP) and the other in Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Management (eSSR). Both eSSP and eSSR courses were offered online on the Moodle platform, followed by a face-to-face capacity-building workshop. A cross-sectional study using a mixed-methods approach was conducted in 2018-19. As outcomes, we described learners' sociodemographic characteristics, course completion and success, and perceptions of the courses and support from the instructors, analyzed the factors associated with learners' successful completion and reported on learners' feedback on their blended learning experience. Quantitative data were analyzed using the STATA 15 software, and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis.

Results: Overall, 282 health professionals were enrolled for both eSSP and eSSR courses. The completion rate was 69.5% (196/282). The success rate for learners who completed the courses was 80% (156/196), and the overall success rate for enrollees was 55% (156/282). The dropout and abstention rates were 22 and 9%, respectively. On both eSSP and eSSR courses, the success rate of women enrolled was higher than or equal to men's. The success rate of medical doctors enrolled (53% for eSSP and 67% for eSSR) was higher than for other health professionals, in particular nurses (9% for eSSP) and midwives (40% for eSSR). Course type was associated with success (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI = 1.15-3.24). Most learners strongly agreed that the courses are relevant for targeted health professionals (81 to 150/150), pdf course materials are well-structured and useful (105/150), the content of the modules is relevant, comprehensible, and clear (90/150), self-assessment quizzes are helpful (105/150), summative assessment assignments are relevant (90/150), the course administrators and IT manager were responsive to learners' concerns (90/150), they will recommend the courses to colleagues and friends (120/150).

Conclusion: Two blended courses for capacity strengthening of health professionals were successfully developed and implemented in Guinea.

Keywords: Blended learning; Capacity strengthening; Distance learning; E-learning; Guinea; Health professionals; Online learning; Web-based courses.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests regarding this paper or the topic of this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Kirkpatrick’s four-level training evaluation model [30]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Participants’ inclusion flow chart on the blended courses in Primary Health Care (eSSP) and Management of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (eSSR) and in the study, Guinea, 2018
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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