Surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff and community health workers in rural Cambodia: a descriptive study for workforce improvement

Yurie Kobashi; Kazato Saeki; Masaharu Tsubokura; Lihorn Srou; Tiny Prum; Norifumi Kuratani; Tomohiro Ishii; Kayako Sakisaka

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Surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff and community health workers in rural Cambodia: a descriptive study for workforce improvement

VernacularTitle:Surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff and community health workers in rural Cambodia: a descriptive study for workforce improvement
Author: Yurie KOBASHI ¹ ; Kazato SAEKI ² ; Masaharu TSUBOKURA ³ ; Lihorn SROU ⁴ ; Tiny PRUM ² ; Norifumi KURATANI ⁵ ; Tomohiro ISHII ⁶ ; Kayako SAKISAKA ⁷
Author Information

1. Department of Anesthesia, Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center, Japan
2. Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR), Cambodia
3. Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
4. University of Kratie, Cambodia
5. Department of Anesthesia, Saitama Children’s Medical Center, Japan
6. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kindai University Nara Hospital, Japan
7. Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, Japan
Keywords: urgery; global health; workforce; knowledge; community health workers
From:Journal of Rural Medicine 2020;15(2):57-62
CountryJapan
Language:English
Abstract: Objective: The surgical workforce needs to at least double by 2030. To increase the workforce, training for non-physician healthcare professionals and community health workers (CHWs) in rural areas is promising to decrease the numbers of untreated surgical patients. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted on surgical activities of non-physician healthcare professionals and CHWs in rural Cambodia. We sought to measure the level of knowledge of surgical symptoms, and identify factors associated with it. A questionnaire survey was administered to people in rural areas of Kratie Province to determine their knowledge of surgical symptoms, and to strengthen the surgical workforce among medical staff and CHWs.Patient/Materials and Methods: To evaluate the knowledge of surgical symptoms among medical staff and CHWs, a self-reported questionnaire was administered to medical staff, CHWs, and villagers in a rural area of Kratie province, Cambodia. The rating score of the number of correct answers among medical staff, CHWs, and villagers was set as the primary outcome.Results: A total of 91 participants, including 31 medical staff, 24 CHWs, and 36 villagers, completed the survey. The median scores for knowledge of symptoms indicative of surgery were 8 (7–8) [median (interquartile range)] in medical staff, 8 (7–8.5) in CHWs, and 8.5 (8–9) in villagers. There was no significant difference in the scores of surgical symptoms among each of the occupational groups. The group of people who recognized low subjective knowledge of surgical symptom by themselves had significantly higher objective score of knowledge of surgical symptom.Conclusion: Knowledge of surgical symptoms among medical staff and CHWs was inadequate. To at least double the surgical workforce by 2030 successfully, accurate evaluation and improvement of surgical symptomatic knowledge among medical staff in rural areas is crucial.