Impact of training package on medical students' awareness to manage a case of Influenza A (H1N1)

Impact of H1N1 training package on medical students’ awareness

Abstract

Background and Aims: There was a global influenza A pandemic in the year 2009. For this emerging infectious disease, Government of India in the year 2009 developed a training tool kit to train health care professionals for the pandemic preparedness. We present the impact of standardized training program on awareness of medical students to manage a case of influenza A (H1N1). Materials and Methods: A pre-post intervention study was designed and implemented. Before the implementation of intervention package, a baseline questionnaire was developed and administered to 179 medical students of first, second, and third semester. Training program was delivered in three batches. Each batch was given three days training. After completion of the training program, the questionnaire was re-administered. Results: The mean age of study participants was 19.2 years (SD = ±2.3 years). Ninety-seven (45%) of the participants were female. The mean score in the pre appraisal was 6.3, which increased to 8.7 after the training component (gain index 24 %). There was a significant increase in number of medical students having "very good knowledge" (64%) and "good knowledge" (34%) after the intervention package. Conclusion: There was a significant improvement in the awareness of medical students following a training program. It is recommended that such programs should be held at regular intervals, as measure for preparedness for emerging disease outbreaks.