Abstract P361: Performance Of A Digital, Mobile, On-demand Hypertension Health Worker Training Course In Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Currently only 2.8% of Nigerian adults with HTN have their blood pressure treated and controlled. Training health workers in HTN management is crucial for improving diagnosis and treatment, but in-person training has limitations. Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-paced, on-demand digital mobile course for training Nigerian health workers in HTN diagnosis and management. Materials & Methods: Twelve HTN training modules based on World Health Organization and Nigerian guidelines were drafted by the investigators. After review by local academic and government partners, Nigerian health workers staffing government-owned primary health care centers piloted the app. Participants were doctors, nurses, and community health workers who completed the course on their own smart phones. Multiple choice questions assessed HTN knowledge before and after the course. Learner feedback was collected in the last module of the course with Likert scale and open response questions. Results: Of 748 users who sampled the course, 574 enrolled. Of those enrolled, 431 completed the course (75% completion rate). Among completers, mean pre-test score was 65.4%, which increased to 78.2% post-test ( P <0.001, paired t test). Health workers not part of existing HTN control programs had lower pre-test scores and greater score gains. Most learners (96.1%) strongly agreed the training was relevant to their work, and almost all (99.8%) agreed that they enjoyed the training. Conclusions: This pilot project developed an on-demand mobile digital HTN training course for Nigerian health workers. If deployed by the Nigerian government, the course will provide an easy way for health workers of all cadres (doctors, nurses, and community health workers) to participate in either induction or refresher training in HTN management.