Assessing the Knowledge Base and Impact of Training on Minimal Access Surgery among Healthcare Providers in a Poor Resource Setting

Background: Minimal access surgery (MAS) skills are unique and different from those of traditional “open” surgery. Surgeons need to effectively acquire and update their surgical skills and procedures in minimal access surgery (MAS) via comprehensive courses in MAS, conferences, workshops, live surgeries and symposia. However, the impact of these comprehensive courses in both basic and advanced minimal access surgeries on health care workers, surgeons’ knowledge, skills, and practice has not been clearly established. Aim: To determine the impact of a three day MAS workshop on the knowledge base of health care workers. Methods: This was an analytical single arm prospective cohort study design. A total of 54 health-care workers (HCW) from Obstetrics/gynecology and Surgery departments in different regions of the country participated in the three day workshop of which 37 were doctors and 17 were nurses. The workshop consisted of lectures, videos, and live surgeries. We completed a survey of all participants who attended the 3-day workshop on basic minimal access surgery (MAS) held in Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria. Our survey method included a pre-workshop set of 20-item self-reporting questions on the socio-demography, professional demography, previous training experience and knowledge of basic minimal access surgery principles were answered prior to commencement of the training and after the training. Scores before and after the training were compared and the results were analyzed using chi square for categorical values and T test for continuous variables. P-value < 0.05 was set as level of significance. Results: Of all the 54 workshop attendees, we received 22 responses (response rate 40.7%). Ten males and 12 females responded. Ten of the respondents were surgeons: 6 resident doctors and 4 consultants, while 12 were nurses. The result of our study showed that mean post-workshop (P ≤ 0.001) survey score was significantly higher than pre-workshop survey mean score. As a result of participating in the workshop, respondents perceived a substantial improvement in their basic minimal access surgery knowledge. Each professional knowledge assessment of the respondent also showed a significant post-workshop mean score (P ≤ 0.002 & 0.001) respectively when compared with the pre-workshop score. Conclusion: Workshop in MAS has an appreciable and a significant impact on the knowledge base of HCW.