The effects of a training program on knowledge, attitude and practice of the staff of primary health care centers towards growth monitoring: an intervention study.

This study was carried out aiming at assessing the effects of a training program on the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of health care workers (HCWs) in primary health care centers (PHCCs) regarding growth monitoring (GM). It included 148 health care workers (30 General Practitioners (GPs) and 118 nurses), from 17 PHCCs in Jeddah city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Tests on KAP were held before and six months following a training program on GM conducted by the investigators. Results showed significant improvements in the KAP of the trained health care workers after training, the 44 trained HCWs obtained higher mean comprehension score (7.9 +/- 1.2), higher mean practice score (11.6 +/- 3.0), and higher mean general scores (32.3 +/- 4.6) compared to the mean scores they obtained in the pre-test (5.7 +/- 1.5; 7.4 +/- 2.2 and 25.7 +/- 4.4, respectively). These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). However; the difference in the mean knowledge scores, before and after the GM training program was not significant. The training has also led to the disappearance of the significant knowledge gap between GPs and nurses. And also, the 44 trained HCWs had higher mean comprehension score (7.9 +/- 1.2), mean practice score (11.6 +/- 3.0), and mean general scores (32.3 +/- 4.6) compared to those among untrained group (controls) (6.3 +/- 2.1; 8.5 +/- 3.7, and 27 +/- 6.1, respectively). These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.0005). Nevertheless, the difference in the mean knowledge scores, between the two groups, was not statistically significant. It also has led to some changes in the attitude of the trained HCWs towards GM compared to the untrained group. In conclusion, We credit the significant improvements in KAP of HCWs to the training program and recommend its adoption by the national MCH program in KSA. We also recommend new methods of teaching and training based on sound educational concept of active participation and practical work as well as supportive supervision and evaluation.