Effective Training Program for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Shanghai's Pediatric Healthcare Workers

Strategic Insights -

A study conducted by the Children's Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, China, has evaluated the effectiveness of an online training program on knowledge and practice of infection prevention and control (IPC) among pediatric healthcare workers (HCW) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research aimed to assess the impact of the training program on HCW's awareness and knowledge of COVID-19, its related infection control, and practice. The results show that the training program was successful in enhancing knowledge and awareness among HCW, and contributed to the zero infection rate among HCW caring for confirmed COVID-19 cases in Shanghai.

Key Takeaways:

  • The online training program was designed by the Shanghai Pediatric Clinical Quality Control Center (SPQCC) during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and targeted 81 partner hospitals affiliated with SPQCC.
  • A multicenter, cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with a 25-item self-administered questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge gained from the training among 1,062 HCW participants (385 pediatricians, 410 nurses, and 267 administrators).
  • The response rate was 96.5%, and the results showed no statistical difference in scores on knowledge of COVID-19, IPC, and relevant practice between tertiary and peripheral hospitals.
  • Middle-ranked health care personnel achieved the highest score, indicating that they were most knowledgeable and practiced well in infection protection and control measures.
  • The training program was able to achieve its aim to enhance knowledge and awareness, and could have contributed to the zero infection rate among HCW caring for confirmed COVID-19 cases in Shanghai.

Statistics:

  • 1,062 HCW participants completed the questionnaire survey, with a response rate of 96.5%.
  • 385 pediatricians, 410 nurses, and 267 administrators participated in the questionnaire survey.
  • The highest score was achieved by middle-ranked health care personnel, indicating that they were most knowledgeable and practiced well in infection protection and control measures.
  • No statistical difference in scores on knowledge of COVID-19, IPC, and relevant practice was observed between tertiary and peripheral hospitals.

Sources:

  • Point-of-care training program on COVID-19 infection prevention and control for pediatric healthcare workers: a multicenter, cross-sectional questionnaire survey in Shanghai, China. Translational Pediatrics, 2021;10(1):44-53.
  • PubMed ID: 33541991 (former publication date not available in the original text)
  • NewsRx. Children's Hospital of Fudan University Reports Findings in COVID-19 (Point-of-care training program on COVID-19 infection prevention and control for pediatric healthcare workers: a multicenter, cross-sectional questionnaire survey in Shanghai, ...). Pediatrics Week. March 20, 2021; p 5.