Implementing surgical mentorship in a resource-constrained context: a mixed methods assessment of the experiences of mentees, mentors, and leaders, and lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: A well-qualified workforce is critical to effective functioning of health systems and populations; however, skill gaps present a challenge in low-resource settings. While an emerging body of evidence suggests that mentorship can improve quality, access, and systems in African health settings by building the capacity of health providers, less is known about its implementation in surgery. We studied a novel surgical mentorship intervention as part of a safe surgery intervention (Safe Surgery 2020) in five rural Ethiopian facilities to understand factors affecting implementation of surgical mentorship in resource-constrained settings. METHODS: We designed a convergent mixed-methods study to understand the experiences of mentees, mentors, hospital leaders, and external stakeholders with the mentorship intervention. Quantitative data was collected through a survey (n = 25) and qualitative data through in-depth interviews (n = 26) in 2018 to gather information on (1) intervention characteristics including areas of mentorship, mentee-mentor relationships, and mentor characteristics, (2) organizational context including facilitators and barriers to implementation, (3) perceived impact, and (4) respondent characteristics. We analyzed the quantitative and qualitative data using frequency analysis and the constant comparison method, respectively; we integrated findings to identify themes. RESULTS: All mentees (100%) experienced the intervention as positive. Participants perceived impact as: safer and more frequent surgical procedures, collegial bonds between mentees and mentors, empowerment among mentees, and a culture of continuous learning. Over 70% of all mentees reported their confidence and job satisfaction increased. Supportive intervention characteristics included a systems focus, psychologically safe mentee-mentor relationships, and mentor characteristics including generosity with time and knowledge, understanding of local context, and interpersonal skills. Supportive organizational context included a receptive implementation climate. Intervention challenges included insufficient clinical training, inadequate mentor support, and inadequate dose. Organizational context challenges included resource constraints and a lack of common understanding of the intervention. CONCLUSION: We offer lessons for intervention designers, policy makers, and practitioners about optimizing surgical mentorship interventions in resource-constrained settings. We attribute the intervention's success to its holistic approach, a receptive climate, and effective mentee-mentor relationships. These qualities, along with policy support and adapting the intervention through user feedback are important for successful implementation.

Safety and Efficacy of the PrePex Male Circumcision Device: Results From Pilot Implementation Studies in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia.

BACKGROUND: Fourteen countries in East and Southern Africa have engaged in national programs to accelerate the provision of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) since 2007. Devices have the potential to accelerate VMMC programs by making the procedure easier, quicker, more efficient, and widely accessible. METHODS: Pilot Implementation studies were conducted in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. The primary objective of the studies was to assess the safety of PrePex device procedures when conducted by nurses and clinical officers in adults and adolescent males (13-17 years, South Africa only) with the following end points: number and grade of adverse events (AEs); pain-related AEs measured using visual analog score; device displacements/self-removals; time to complete wound healing; and procedure times for device placement and removal. RESULTS: A total of 1401 participants (1318 adult and 83 adolescent males) were circumcised using the PrePex device across the 3 studies. Rates of moderate/severe AEs were low (1.0%; 2.0%; and 2.8%) in the studies in Mozambique, Zambia, and South Africa, respectively. Eight early self-removals of 1401 (0.6%) were observed, all required corrective surgery. High rates of moderate/severe pain-related AEs were recorded especially at device removal in South Africa (34.9%) and Mozambique (59.5%). Ninety percent of participants were healed at day 56 postplacement. DISCUSSION: The study results from the 3 countries suggest that the implementation of the PrePex device using nonphysician health care workers is both safe and feasible, but better pain control at device removal needs to be put in place to increase the comfort of VMMC clients using the PrePex device.

Acceptability and Satisfaction Associated With the Introduction of the PrePex Circumcision Device in Maputo, Mozambique.

BACKGROUND: Adult device circumcision may potentially reach more men in Sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer human resource and capacity needs than surgical procedures. Despite these advantages, little is known about device acceptability, including pain and maintaining the device in situ. METHODS: Healthy, HIV-negative men, between 18 and 49 years, in a Maputo clinic, were consecutively asked to participate in a circumcision device study that included assessing acceptability. Clinical forms and self-administered surveys were used to collect data at various times during the circumcision process for consenting men. Data were entered into a central database and analyzed using statistical software. RESULTS: Between May and July, 2013, 504 men received device circumcision. Placement was painless for 98.2% of the male population, but the pain was more common during removal with 38.3% reporting severe or unbearable and 21.5% moderate pain. Satisfaction was high at both time points with 88.8% and 92.6% of men being very or somewhat satisfied at placement and removal, respectively. Half of the male population (50.2%) was very or somewhat comfortable with the device in situ; whereas, 36.8% were somewhat or very uncomfortable. Common device difficulties experienced were painful erections (38.5%) and difficult urination (21.8%) and hygiene (21.4%). By the final clinic visit at day 49, 90.4% of them were very or somewhat satisfied with the procedure. DISCUSSION: High levels of satisfaction were reported for device circumcision, despite the pain noted during removal and some challenges with the device in situ. Given the advantages and acceptability among Mozambican men in this study, device circumcision could be offered, when clinically appropriate, as an alternative to surgery.

Participant Experiences and Views of Odor and PrePex Device Removal Pain in a VMMC Pilot Study in Botswana.

OBJECTIVE: To assess participant experiences and perceptions of removal pain and odor associated with the PrePex device procedure. METHODS: We analyzed data from a PrePex device pilot implementation study of 802 male participants aged 18-49 years at 2 clinics in Botswana, 2013. Study staff administered survey questions on device-related odor and assessed pain using visual analog scale scores categorized as no pain (0), mild (1-4), moderate (5-7), or severe pain (8-10). RESULTS: Mean participant age was 27.7 (range = 18-48) years. Of the 802 participants, 751 (94%) reported to have noticed an unusual or unpleasant odor while wearing the device. Of these, 193 (26%) participants tried something to combat the odor. A total of 84 (10%) participants reported no pain, 655 (82%) mild pain, 48 (6%) moderate pain, and 15 (2%) severe pain at 2 minutes after device removal. Pain reports at 15 minutes after removal were 553 (69%) no pain, 247 (31%) mild pain, and 2 (0.25%) moderate pain, with no report of severe pain at this time point. Of 740 participants interviewed on day 42 after device placement, 678 (92%) were satisfied with the procedure and 681 (92%) would recommend it to another man considering circumcision, including 488 (66%) who would recommend it strongly. CONCLUSIONS: An unusual or unpleasant odor while wearing the PrePex device and mild self-limiting pain at device removal were common, but overall, these did neither seem to impair satisfaction nor deter participants from recommending PrePex to others, which could suggest good prospects for uptake of the device in this setting.

RED for PMTCT: an adaptation of immunization's Reaching Every District approach increases coverage, access, and utilization of PMTCT care in Bondo District, Kenya.

Gaps exist in coverage, early access, and utilization of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services in Kenya. The Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program, led by Jhpiego, piloted an adaptation of immunization's Reaching Every District (RED) approach in Bondo District as a way of improving PMTCT care. Routine district-level monthly summary service delivery pre- and post-implementation data were analyzed. Marked improvements resulted in the proportion of HIV-infected and non-infected pregnant women completing four focused prenatal care visits, from 25% to 41%, and the proportion of HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) tested at six weeks, from 27% to 78% (P<0.001). The proportion of HEIs tested for HIV infection at 12months was 52%, while 77% of HEIs were issued antiretroviral prophylaxis by the end of the pilot. Implementation of RED for PMTCT demonstrated that PMTCT services can be delivered effectively in the context of the existing community strategy and resulted in increased coverage, access, and utilization of care for HIV-positive pregnant women and their children.