A Training Needs Analysis

of Health Care Providers in the

Primary Health Department:
A boon or a bane?

Ms. Mariella Bombagi

Ms. Rebecca Cachia Fearne
Dr. Mario R Sammut
Overview

Background to the study

Aims and Objectives

Definition of terms

Methodology

Discussion of findings

Conclusion

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Background to the study

One of the major roles of the CPD Unit and the
Specialist Training Programme in Family Medicine
(STPFM) at Primary Health is to organise in-service
training to health care providers.

Due to low staff participation in these educational

activities, and to explore how training can be
delivered more effectively, the need of conducting a
training needs analysis was felt.

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Definition of terms

Training Need is a shortage of skills or abilities,

which could be reduced or eliminated by means of
training and development.

Training Needs Analysis is a series of activities

conducted to identify problems or other issues in the
workplace, and to determine whether training is an
appropriate response. Ref

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 Health Care Providers

 Senior Pharmacists, Pharmacists and Pharmacist Technicians -

Pharm & Pharm Tech.
 Senior Physiotherapists and Physiotherapists - Physiotherapists
 Dentists and dental hygienists - Dentists & Dental Hyg
 Nursing Officers and Deputies, enrolled and registered nurses,
and midwives - Nurses & Midwives
 Consultants, Senior General Practitioners, General Practitioners
and GP Trainees - Medical Practitioners
 Manager, Senior Podologists and podologists - Podologists
 Nursing Aides and Health Assistants - Auxiliary Staff
 Manager Speech Language Pathologists, senior speech language
pathologists and speech language pathologists - SLP

5
Aim and Objectives
Aim
 To identify the training needs of health care providers (HCP)
within the Maltese Primary Health Department.

Objectives
 To analyse the specific topics/subjects which the HCP would like
to be more knowledgeable on.

 To investigate the barriers that are impeding HCP from attending in-
service training.

 To explore what can be done to eliminate these barriers.

 To identify the preferred learning formats and methods by primary

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HCP’s.
Methodology
 A series of 12 questions were formulated after reviewing relevant
literature. A covering letter was prepared and attached with the
questionnaire.

 Approval to conduct the TNA questionnaire was sought and given

by the Primary Health Director. No ethical approval was needed
since no sensitive personal data were gathered.

 A pilot study was conducted in a particular health centre with a

range of HCP’s. Necessary changes in the tool were implemented.

 A prize raffle was used as an incentive to encourage participation in

this survey.
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Target Population
Total Number of HCP - 504 Respondents:
Number (n) Percentage (%)

Physiotherapists 12 10 83
Dentists & Den. Hyg 15 9 60
Nurses & Midwives 178 99 56
Pharm & Pharm Tech. 42 21 50
Auxiliary Staff 71 31 44
Podologists 16 6 37
Medical Pract. 98 28 28
SLP 66 11 17
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Length of Time for all HCP’s
working within Primary Health
2% 3%
17% Less than a year
20%
1- 5 yrs
6- 10yrs
11- 15yrs

17% 16- 20yrs

21- 25yrs
23%
More than 26yrs

18%
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Why should I attend the course?
Refreshments

Location

Length of Programme

TIL

Certificate

Course Material

Lecturer

Programme Topic

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

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Why should I attend the course?
YES!...........but only if it is for………

 ‘Career Progression’
Medical Profession (n=3)

 ‘Specialisation and Professional Development’

Nursing & Midwifery Profession (n=4)

 ‘Training on ambulance service’

Auxiliary Staff (n=4)

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 What makes a location/atmosphere
conducive to participation?
IT in workplace
During working hours
Being informed
Small groups
At the workplace
Accumulation of CPD/CME points
Good staff complement
Teaching facilities
Parking facilities
Central area
Comfortable premises

0 10 20 30 40 50
12
Replies
What makes a location/atmosphere
conducive to participation?
Other responses according to one’s practice:

‘Concession to close pharmacy’

Pharm & Pharm. Tech. (n=3)

‘Lectures need to be repeated’

Nurses & Midwives (n=18)

‘Lectures need to be relevant to one’s work’

Speech Language Pathologists (n=3)
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How can training be improved?
Eu Exchange visits
Regular updates
Monthly Lectures
IT in workplace
Discussion Approach
Case-study Approach
Practical Approach
Repitition of Lectures
Relevant&Interesting Topics

0 10 20 30 40 50

Responses for all HC workers 14

Obstacles to in-training
participation
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Lack of time Unaware of Shortage of Courses not Other
existing courses Staff relevant commitments

Pharm. & Pharm Tech. Podologists Physiotherapists

Nurses & Midwives Medical Pract. SLP
Dent. & Dental Hyg Auxiliary Staff 15
Obstacles to in-training
participation
‘Courses being held after working hours’
Pharm& Pharm Tech (1), Physiotherapists (1)
‘A large caseload that does not allow cancelling clinic or shifting
of appointments’
SLP (1)
‘Work shifts, timing of lectures’
Nurses & Midwives (3)
‘Unable to take time off’
Medical Pract. (1)
‘Usually courses are addressed to nurses’
Auxiliary Staff (1)
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Health-related topics
70
60 Medical Pract.
50
40
Nurses & Midwives
30
20
10 Auxiliary Staff
0
As Di Bu Co W Pr
th ab rn m ou e-
m et s m nd H
a es un s os
i ca pi
ta
ti o lC
n ar
Sk e
ill
s 17
Training needs according to …
Pharmacists & Pharm. Tech.
Number of Respondents
All topics relevant to pharmacy 4

Hypertension 2
Drug interaction 2

OCD 1
Ethical issues 1
First Aid 1
CPR 1
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Training needs according to…
Speech Language Pathologists
Number of Respondents

Paediatric speech language pathology subjects 1

Assertiveness courses 1
First Aid courses 1
Epilepsy 1
Communication disorders 1
Management of aphasia 1
Autism 2
Language delay 1
Down’s syndrome 1
Learning disability 1
Syndromes which are not much discussed such as 1
Pierre Robin Syndrome 19
Training needs according to…
Podologists
Number of Respondents

Biomechanics 2
Infection control 1
Marketing 1
Procedure of patient referral 1
Sports medicine 1
Rehabilitation following foot surgery 1
such as orthotics/accommodation
Prevention of wound ulcers in high 1
risk patients 20
Training needs according to…
Physiotherapists
Number of Respondents

Internal Marketing 1

Ethics 1

Musculoskeletal and 1
rheumatology lectures

Traumatology lectures 1

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Training needs according to…
Nurses and Midwives
Number of Respondents
Leadership and Management Skills 3
Immunization 11

Nutrition and dietetics (in diabetes, 1

hypertension, etc.,)
Team building (inter and intradisciplinary) 1

Self-Awareness 1
Community Health Needs Assessment 1
Basic and Advanced life support 4
Venepuncture 1
Men’s health 1 22
Training needs according to…
Medical Practitioners
Number of Respondents

Recent developments in 1
diagnostics and therapeutics
Basic health economics 1
Sexually transmitted diseases 1
Ophthalmic emergencies 1
Geriatrics 1
Orthopaedics 1
Mental Health 1
Palliative Care 1 23
Training needs according to…
Dentists & Dental Hygienists
Number of Respondents

Topics related to dentistry 2

Implantology 1

Orthodontics 1

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 Types of learning methods
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Half-Day Full-Day Practical Discussion 1-2hour
Workshop Seminar Session Group Lecture

Auxiliary Staff Dentists & Dental Hyg SLP

Medical Pract. Nurses & Midwives Physiotherapists
Podologists Pharm.& Pharm Tech 25
 Lecture delivery
200
Auxiliary Staff
180
160 Dentists&Dent. Hyg

140 SLP
120 Medical Pract.
100
Nurses & Midwives
80
60 Podologists

40 Physiotherapists
20
Pharm&Pharm Tech.
0
Uni-professional Multidisciplinary
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 Lecture Attendance
200 Auxiliary Staff
180
Dentists&Dent. Hyg
160
140 SLP

120 Medical Pract.

100
Nurses & Midwives
80
60 Podologists

40 Physiotherapists
20
Pharm&Pharm Tech.
0
Same Other
Profession Profession
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Conclusion

The TNA revealed information important to the
PHD’s training and educational strategy
 contributing factors that hinder/facilitate one’s
decision to attend a training course
 what needs to be done to improve further
participation in training and development
 what the actual training needs of the health care
providers according to their discipline are
 what are the preferred learning methods and
approaches of health providers
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THANK YOU