Video as an effective knowledge transfer tool to increase awareness among health workers and better manage dengue fever cases

Abstract

# Background For a patient with dengue fever, a wrong diagnosis can be fatal. Unfortunately, very few Burkinabé health workers are adequately trained to diagnose and treat cases of dengue fever. Recent outbreaks of dengue fever in Burkina Faso, which carries a significant malaria burden, have made updating health workers' knowledge urgent. Following a trial to determine the most appropriate format, a video was specially developed as a knowledge translation tool to update health workers' knowledge. # Methods The video was sent to front-line medical staff. Within four months, it was viewed by 2,993 people. A qualitative evaluation was conducted using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Twenty-one health professionals who viewed the video agreed to participate in interviews on which content analysis was performed. # Results The uptake of the knowledge in the video was mainly influenced by the fact that its format was adapted to the target audience, that it presented specific and concise information, that it conveyed a relevant message in everyday language, and that the participants urgently needed the content. # Conclusions Video development as a knowledge transfer tool is an effective and efficient way to update health workers' knowledge and influence their practices. Users received the video enthusiastically due to the epidemic context.