Abstract:

The global HIV/AIDS epidemic has disproportionately affected many regions in the developing world with limited institutions of graduate and professional education, weak health infrastructure and as a result, inadequate human resources for health. Implementation of effective programs for prevention, testing, care, and treatment of HIV requires a health workforce with adequate knowledge and skills in the area of HIV medicine, yet many practicing clinicians had little or no HIV-related education in their pre-service training periods.

The International Training and Education Center (I-TECH) at the University of Washington has facilitated distance education opportunities to participants from areas affected by the HIV epidemic for several years. Offerings have included one-time seminars, case-based clinical roundtable discussions, and a recurring clinical series covering various topics of global health interest. Two courses have been offered in a more elaborate 10-week structure covering leadership and program management (targeting program managers), and the clinical management of HIV disease (targeting clinicians).

Although feedback has generally been very positive, one major limitation in Mozambique has been language, since many practicing clinicians have only limited English proficiency. After participating in the ‘Clinical Management of HIV Disease’ course as a distance learning site, clinician-educators based in Mozambique, in collaboration with University of Washington faculty, developed and implemented a Portuguese-only version of the course, adapted to local Mozambican conditions, guidelines, and realities. The course was hosted at the Eduardo Mondlane School of Medicine in Maputo, and offered via a synchronous distance learning platform in Beira, Sofala province 1,200 miles to the north in collaboration with the Sofala Provincial Health Directorate (DPS). Each site was facilitated by a local expert clinician who had previously participated in the 10-week course. The course was accredited by the Eduardo Mondlane University and participants fulfilling minimum requirements received a certificate of completion. For the first offering in March 2011, 35 clinicians participated in Maputo and 21 via synchronous distance learning platform in Beira. Preparations for future course offerings in Mozambique and Angola are underway and planned for later in 2011.

The collaboration between US-based and Mozambique-based clinicians and educators has been mutually beneficial, bringing distance learning technology platforms to areas they have not been previously introduced, and allowing appropriate adaptation of a curriculum from a resource-rich clinical setting to one with limited resources. Participants have rated the program highly and have reported increased confidence and skills in areas of HIV medicine relevant to their local epidemic. Interactive distance learning platforms represent an efficient, cost-effective method for transferring clinical in-service HIV-related curricula to resource-limited settings.

Keywords:

HIV, Medical Education, Distance Learning, Global Health, Collaboration.