Evaluating the Effects of Training to Improve Teaching Skills of Health Sciences Educators in Sudan

Abstract

Amani Mustafa,1 Mayeh Omar,2 Nada Mohamed Ali Alnair,3 Amel Abdu Abdalla Gesmalla,4 Nour Ahmed Yousif Ahmed,5 Nadia Elemam,5 Nabil Aziz6 ,† Maymoona Eltayeb,6 Seseni Nu,7 Sarah Yoss,7 Stephen Blount,7 Tariq Badawi,5 Dafallah Alam-Elhuda5 1Public Health Training Initiative, The Carter Center, Khartoum, Sudan; 2Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; 3Global Health Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan; 4Human Resources Development Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan; 5Academy of Health Sciences, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan; 6The Carter Center, Khartoum, Sudan; 7The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA†Dr Nabil Aziz passed away on May 18, 2021Correspondence: Amani Mustafa, Public Health Training Initiative, The Carter Center, Nile Street, Khartoum, Sudan, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected]: This evaluation draws evidence on the outcome of learning and teaching courses that were offered to a number of teaching staff (referred to as trainers) of the Academies of Health Sciences, Midwifery Schools and Centre for Continuous Professional Development in Sudan.Methods: The evaluation was a cross-sectional, institution-based study conducted from October 2017 to January 2018 involving qualitative design. It consisted of direct observations of teaching, focus group discussions with students and semi-structured interviews with managers of teaching institutions.Results: The findings of direct observations revealed that the learning and teaching course has positive effects on the trainers’ ability to have clear, well-stated learning objectives; their presentation skills; and their use of different teaching methods. Moreover, the observations showed that trainers who attended the learning and teaching course now encourage the students to ask questions and are providing them with timely feedback about their learning. As students were the main beneficiaries for improved teaching, focus group discussions have shown that students were generally satisfied with trainers’ performance regarding the stated learning outcomes, curricula design, use of a range of teaching methods and assessment methods. During in-depth interviews, managers of training institutions expressed satisfaction with the trainers’ performance regarding the development of training materials, learners’ assessment, supervision, and evaluation of training.Conclusion: Short courses on teaching and learning were a valuable investment for trainers, students, and the overall performance of health sciences training institutions. The evaluation revealed that trainers were able to apply what they have learnt. Moreover, students and managers noticed improvement in the performance of trainers in teaching, course delivery and assessment. It is recommended to expand, cascade and institutionalize the short courses on learning and teaching to all states to improve the capabilities of trainers, which would eventually contribute to the production of competent allied health professions in Sudan.Keywords: capacity development, human resources development, Kirkpatrick model, training of trainers, public health training, qualitative evaluation

Keywords

• capacity development
• human resources development
• kirkpatrick model
• training of trainers
• public health training
• qualitative evaluation