THEMATIC CONTENT ANALYSIS OF OPEN ENDED QUESTION IN A STUDY TO EVALUATE EFFICACY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ON KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE HANDLERS IN A MEDICAL COLLEGE

Abstract

AIMS: To carry out Thematic Content Analysis of open ended question in a study to evaluate efcacy of educational program on knowledge and practices of Biomedical Waste Handlers in a medical college Study design: Exploratory study Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Medical College Pune from June 2019 to December 2020 METHODOLOGY: A total of 37 reviews were received. Many answers were in Hindi, Marathi, English and Roman Hindi (Transliteration of Hindi in Roman Script) and thus were transcribed to English. Useless data was excluded and codication of data was carried out. Themes were generated from these data and Thematic Content Analysis was carried out. RESULTS: The themes prominently noticed were “positive feedback of the training program”, “suggestions for better training”, and “suggestions for better outcomes”. 10% of the feedbacks were appreciative of the Instructor, 10% of the feedbacks were appreciative of the conduct of class, and 17% of the suggestions revealed that these programs are indeed helpful and created awareness. 24% of the feedback received revealed that the gain of knowledge from such program is directly associated with performance. 14% of the feedbacks laid emphasis on Hands on Training, 17% feedback reected that the timing, duration and initiation of the program should be suited to the participants, and 7% of the suggestions demanded a need for certication of such a program. CONCLUSION: Causes for poor participation to offer suggestion should be evaluated to ensure better feedback and also to know the exact cause of lassitude – whether organic or systematic. Despite a few inadequacies, the program was much appreciated with a positive peer to peer feedback.