Building capacity through the 'training of trainers' approach

In each project country, three master trainers were recruited to participate in the Pneumonia Diagnostics project to cascade training to the community health workers and first level health facility workers. During the ‘training of trainers’ for the accuracy evaluation stage, all master trainers acquired comprehensive knowledge on the importance of the Pneumonia Diagnostics project, how to use the training materials, follow study procedures and to diagnose pneumonia with pulse oximeters, respiratory rate timers and, in South Sudan, with counting beads.

After completing their training courses, each of the master trainers went on to conduct a single pilot training session for the accuracy evaluation with a group of frontline health workers in their country. This pilot training session was observed by evaluators, and participants were interviewed afterwards to determine whether the training was clear and easy to follow.

Using this approach, around 56 community health workers and 12 first level health facility workers were trained by the master trainers in each project country for the accuracy evaluation.

The ‘training of trainers’ approach will be used again as the Pneumonia Diagnostics project moves into the field evaluation stage, in order to cascade training to the frontline health workers on how to use the devices during routine practice, and how to enroll children into the study.