Modernising medical pre- and inservice training

Context

Medical training for doctors and healthcare professionals, nursing staff and midwives in Uzbekistan does not currently meet international standards and the requirements of professional practice for providing adequate care to patients. The reason for this is that basic and advanced training is primarily theory-based and often does not contain sufficient practical training in hospitals.

Objective

The education and training of selected health professionals in the Surxondaryo region has become more practice-orientated.

Approach

The project advises participating educational institutions and the Ministry of Health on how to:

1. Develop and refine practice-oriented curricula and training programmes
   A central aspect is the design of an evaluation system for grading clinical-practical skills that are tested using simulation equipment. The assumption related to results is that a precise and uniformly applied evaluation system makes it easier for teachers and training participants to identify and rectify incorrect practices. This establishes learning loops, which in turn improve the quality of practical training for healthcare professionals.
2. Integrate simulations into clinical training
   The assumption related to results is that the use of simulation technologies will improve both the quality of the practical training components and increase the overall scope of practical training modules. The effectiveness of simulation-based learning in medical professions, including knowledge of effectiveness factors and additional benefits such as ‘learning without risk’, has been extensively documented in numerous studies over the past two decades (World Health Organization: Global strategy on human resources for health: Workforce 2030). This approach improves the overall practical orientation of education and training for healthcare professionals.
3. Train teachers to use this technology
   The assumption related to results is that teachers are able to use, supervise and evaluate simulation exercises, which can achieve the anticipated effects on improving the practical orientation of education and training.

In this way, the project improves the practical education and training of medical professionals such as nursing staff and midwives by applying quality assurance tools. The focus is on the organisational level, in particular on supporting the participating educational institutions in the design of monitoring and quality improvement tools and the development of an evaluation system for simulation exercises. Repeated application of these tools and processes will make their use routine and enable institutional consolidation.

KfW is building a simulation centre for implementation of the project and is providing modern equipment.

Last update: March 2024