World Health Organization (WHO) influenza experts have recently conducted a clinical workshop for front-line clinicians working in intensive care units (ICUs) across Tajikistan. As the health professionals primarily responsible for the management of severe cases of influenza infection, these clinicians are likely to be the first to detect severe cases of any novel virus infection with pandemic potential.

During the five-day workshop held in Dushanbe, the participants learned how to perform critical care management of severe acute respiratory infection, including severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), severe sepsis and septic shock, using a systematic, evidence-based approach.

The training course used a problem-solving approach to facilitate the learning of the principal components of critical care management of patients with severe forms of influenza infection. It was based on a participatory approach that offers the participants a step-by-step approach to acquire the knowledge and skills they need for the tasks involved – from hospital entry to discharge of patients suffering from severe influenza virus infection.

The trainers used different methods to conduct the workshop: short lectures using slides and small video clips, interactive role play sessions (in small groups of about 10 participants per facilitator), equipment and consumables for demonstration of infection prevention control rules and the use of a toolkit as a reference guide.

To measure participants’ knowledge of the course content, a test was conducted at the start and after completion of the course. In addition, the participants completed a survey at the end of each day to provide immediate feedback regarding learning environment, teaching materials, learning methods, and facilitators. Overall, the participants reported most learning sequences to be very good.

The clinical workshop was conducted through the joint efforts of WHO headquarters, WHO/Europe and the WHO Country Office in collaboration with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population.

The WHO Country Office in Tajikistan was established in 1992 in Dushanbe to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in strengthening of the public health system in the country. The country team consists of 24 staff members, including 12 experts in the fields of health policy and financing, immunisation and surveillance, epidemiology, communicable diseases, disaster preparedness and response, family and community health, nutrition, food safety and food security, mental health and environment and health.

The priorities for the Country Office are set out in the biennial collaborative agreement between WHO/Europe and the host country. The Office implements the agreement in close collaboration with national institutions and international partner agencies.

Source: WHO/Europe
Image Credit: WHO/Europe

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Sepsis, Influenza, WHO, Pneumonia, Critical Care, workshop World Health Organization (WHO) influenza experts have recently conducted a clinical workshop for front-line clinicians working in intensive care units (IC...