Training
Training and continuing professional development (CPD) will be a central activity of Ammalife. Training will focus on developing a network of communities that have demonstrated the capacity to be agents of their own change.
We will develop robust curricula, delivery methods, and assessments for our courses, and will base our teaching on evidence-based teaching strategies as far as feasible (to gain maximum benefit from the training sessions). ). For instance, a meta-analysis published in the BMJ† by two Ammalife trustees showed that training that takes place in a) a clinical setting and b) in an interactive fashion is more likely to achieve changes in not only knowledge gain, but also skills, attitudes and behaviour. We will thus use such methods in our approach to teaching, whilst taking into full account local perceptions and needs about training. Training programmes will generally be delivered once a clear need has been identified, and sufficient interest and commitment has been expressed by potential participants. We will use a combination of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic teaching approaches, and aim to ensure retention by use of tools such as guidelines, drills and posters
What are the guiding principles of Ammalife Training activities?
Some of the guiding principles include:
- Courses that identify and take into account learner needs.
- Courses that take place in the context of CPD and KT (knowledge translations), as well as local and national service objectives.
- Courses that have been tried and tested (evaluated to be effective).
- Learning using an interactive approach.
- Learning incorporated into clinical practice.
- Sequenced events that aid reinforcement, rather than single or episodic CME events.
- Multi-faceted strategies in teaching and learning
- Courses that are sustainable (with training of local trainers
What type of training activities will Ammalife be involved in?
- Community Development Training.
- Training to support specific projects (pre-service and in-service training for clinical and managerial staff)
- Training to support health care Trainers in developing world (Training the Trainers Courses)
- Training through Clinical Support Teams – Modelled on the successful programmes by AMDD (Averting Maternal Death and Disability, Columbia University, USA), we will organise external support teams (often comprising obstetricians, midwifes, and anaesthetists) to be a resource to health facilities, and health systems.
- Obstetric emergencies training (based on an EmOC curriculum)
- Health facility set-up and management training.
- Project Management Training
- Quality Improvement training
- Research Training
- Advocacy Training
- Fistulae Repair Training
How will we train?
- Participative face-to-face courses – day, weekend, week – in the UK, and abroad
- Internet based/ correspondence courses.
- Through collaboration with Colleges, Universities, Professional Bodies, and Training Organisations. We hope to produce certificate course, special skills modules, and Diplomas for trainees in the UK and healthcare workers abroad.
- Exchange Programmes
- Workshops
- Conferences
We expect Ammalife Training and CPD programmes to evolve with time. We will conduct educational research to understand what works and what doesn’t work. The Training and CPD activities will be guided by an Ammalife Education Committee which, in the longer term, will look to establish Ammalife College.
† Coomarasamy A, Khan KS. What is the evidence that postgraduate teaching in evidence based medicine changes anything? A systematic review. BMJ. 2004 Oct 30;329(7473):1017
