International Infection Control Training Partnerships: Experiences from the Egypt-University of Louisville Collaboration

Authors

Amr Aboelnasr, University of Louisville Division of Infectious DiseasesFollow
Mohammad Tahboub, University of Louisville Infectious DiseasesFollow
Dawn Balcom, University of Louisville Division of Infectious DiseasesFollow
Lynn Roser, University of Louisville School of NursingFollow
Morgan Stanley, University of Louisville Division of Infectious DiseasesFollow
Stephen P. Furmanek, University of Louisville Division of Infectious DiseasesFollow
Ruth Carrico, University of Louisville Division of Infectious DiseasesFollow

Abstract

Background: Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is a global challenge that represent opportunities for international collaboration. Both the United States and Egypt prioritize HAI reduction as activities of public health importance. These shared priorities provide a foundation for interactive education and training.

Objective: In the fall 2018, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sought a US training site where a delegation of physicians and nurses from Egypt could receive experiential training regarding HAI and prevention. The objectives of this review are to: 1) outline the training components used for the US-Egypt collaboration held at the University of Louisville in Kentucky; 2) describe the immersive and experiential approaches used to promote interprofessional education in infection control; and 3) identify some of the successes and challenges of this cultural and practice collaboration.

Methods: The course curriculum consisted of a 10-day agenda that provided classroom training, live simulation, role playing, and healthcare facility visits all supporting immersive and experiential learning. Evaluation methods were based upon Kirkpatrick’s Model and included individual self-assessments, daily course evaluations, a summative course evaluation, pre-and post-course testing, and action learning plans.

Results: The Egyptian cohort consisted of twenty-six physicians and nurses representing twenty-six different healthcare facilities across the country. Participants rated the course highly but had a strong desire for more interactive experiences at the hospitals. Comparing pre- and post-course knowledge, overall knowledge improved in both the physician and nurse groups.

Conclusions: Results from this collaboration demonstrate an ability to provide an organized infection prevention and control training course that reached the University of Louisville team goals and met the stated expectations of the course sponsors. Both the University of Louisville team and the Egyptian delegation indicated that a longer planning horizon would have been beneficial.

Funder

The program was funded by USAID but there was no role in the production or review of this manuscript.

DOI

10.18297/rgh/vol2/iss2/11

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Aboelnasr, Amr; Tahboub, Mohammad; Balcom, Dawn; Roser, Lynn; Stanley, Morgan; Furmanek, Stephen P.; and Carrico, Ruth (2019) "International Infection Control Training Partnerships: Experiences from the Egypt-University of Louisville Collaboration," Journal of Refugee & Global Health: Vol. 2 : Iss. 2 , Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18297/rgh/vol2/iss2/11
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/rgh/vol2/iss2/11