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Preparedness for practice of health professionals in Papua New Guinea : A cross-sectional survey of nurses and community health workers
Kililo, Mary Dopsie, Julie Passingan, Sulpain Kep, Julie Joseph, Nina Kitau, Russel Roroi, Mary Rossiter, Chris Sim, Jenny Brown, Di
Kililo, Mary
Dopsie, Julie
Passingan, Sulpain
Kep, Julie
Joseph, Nina
Kitau, Russel
Roroi, Mary
Rossiter, Chris
Sim, Jenny
Brown, Di
Abstract
Introduction
Papua New Guinea (PNG) experiences widespread health inequity and shortage of health professionals, exacerbated by poverty, isolation, gender-based violence and limited infrastructure, transport and accessible services. Nurses and community health workers (CHW) represent 72% of health workforce. However, health professional education programs are outdated and not aligned with national health priorities. We aimed to explore the adequacy of current curricula for nurses and CHWs by examining graduate competencies and preparedness for practice.
Methods
Cross-sectional study with four cohorts: 1) 130 new nurse graduates, 2) 75 nurses who supervised them, 3) 105 new CHW graduates and 4) 65 CHW supervisors. We surveyed perceptions of recent graduates’ clinical competence and compared graduates’ and supervisors’ ratings using chi-squared analysis.
Results
Graduates and supervisors differed significantly in perceptions of graduate competency, for both nurses and CHWs. Despite asserting their competence, graduates identified skills gaps and needs for additional learning support after graduation, including national priority areas (pregnancy, maternal-child health, infection control, emergency health management).
Conclusion
This study among health professionals in PNG, a country with very limited data on human resources for health, found gaps in graduate preparedness for practice, offering insights into skill deficits that should be addressed in upcoming curriculum review.
Keywords
community health workers, curriculum, nurses, nursing education, papua new guinea, survey
Date
2024
Type
Journal article
Journal
Pacific Journal of Health
Book
Volume
7
Issue
1
Page Range
1-25
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Open access
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled
Notes
Bronze open access.