Applying the WHO-ICRC BEC course to train emergency and inpatient healthcare workers in Sierra Leone early in the COVID-19 outbreak.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Treating critical illness in resource-limited settings during disease outbreaks is feasible and can save lives. Lack of trained healthcare workers is a major barrier to COVID-19 response. There is an urgent need to train healthcare workers to manage COVID-19. The World Health Organization and International Committee of the Red Cross's Basic Emergency Care course could provide a framework to cross-train personnel for COVID-19 care while strengthening essential health services.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study evaluating the Basic Emergency Care course for healthcare workers from emergency and inpatient units at two hospitals in Sierra Leone, a low-income country in West Africa. Baseline, post-course, and six month assessments of knowledge and confide

SUBMITTER: Sonenthal PD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8842917 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature