Reproductive health program of Turkish Armed Forces: Evaluation
of training of field trainers
T. Kaya1, A. Akyuz1, E. Gocgeldi2, S. Gungor3, B.
Bakir2, H. Bebis1, M. Hasde2
1Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Nursery,
Ankara, Turkey, 2Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Public Health, Ankara,
Turkey, 3Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology,
Ankara, Turkey
Background In the frame of Reproductive Health Program of
Turkish Armed Forces, training in reproductive and sexual health has been well
integrated into the military curriculum of physicians, nurses and medical petty
officers in, since 2003. So far, 180 five-day participatory, interactive courses
have been conducted and 800 newly graduated and 2800 experienced military
medical personnel have been certified as field trainers. This study was
conducted to review the outcomes of training courses regarding participants’
baseline and post training knowledge levels and presentation skills.
Method The
knowledge levels of 150 participants attending 8 consecutive training courses
held on November and December 2005 was tested by 33 multiple-choice questions at
the beginning and at end of the course. Each participant also had to make a
self-assessment about his/her interactive teaching and presentation skills
including use of interactive techniques, timing, proper humor, proper use of
body language. Self-assessment scores were expressed as “sufficient”,
“need to improve” or “insufficient.
Results Of all participants,
medical petty officers constituted the largest group with 50.7%. Mean pre-course
score of all participants was 74.8% ± 11.6, while post-course score was 89.2 ±
SD=8.7 (p<0.05). The ratio of increase in knowledge was similar in three groups. "Use of body language", "proper humor", "making trainee fully participate", "encouraging participants to ask questions", and "feed-backing participants" were found to be most important skills to be improved.
Conclusion Training courses seem to succeed in increasing the
knowledge, experience in techniques of peer education, presentation, RH
counselling, communication skills, and team-work of the participating staff that
will be valuable not only for reproductive health training activities for
conscripts but in every step of their personal career.