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Background: Training needs assessment involves the identification and prioritization of training requirements. The medical practice regulatory authority in Nigeria recommends continuing medical education for physicians. The courses are preplanned and often do not take into consideration the training needs and the preferred method for performance improvement. This study aimed to assess the preferred method for performance improvement among physicians at a tertiary health facility in Southwest Nigeria. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey carried out among 355 doctors employed in the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Sampling was conducted using stratified random sampling with a proportionate allocation to size across different cadres of doctors in various departments/units. The World Health Organization Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Analysis Questionnaire was adopted for this study. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of 33 items (assignments) grouped into five subcategories: clinical assignments, communication/teamwork, research/audit, management/supervisory assignments, and administration. Participants were requested to rate each of the 33 items/assignments along with seven-point scales (one = not at all important and seven = very important). The Hennessy-Hicks training manual quadrant chart was adopted for the interpretation of the training needs gap. Results: Three hundred and three (85.4%) of 355 participants responded to the survey. The mean age ± standard deviation of participants was 37.62 ± 6.7 years. About four-fifths of the participants were resident doctors. Regarding the most important rating, the clinical assignment subcategory was rated (6.3) as the most important to participants' job, out of the five subcategories. Participants, however, rated their performance best in the communication/teamwork subcategory. The training needs gap was highest (0.82) in the research/audit subcategory and lowest (0.48) in the communication/teamwork category. All subcategories reported a similar score (5.8) on participants' perception of the organization's development as a method to bridge the gap in training needs. Participants also rated the training course method as a better method to improve performance in all five subcategories. Conclusion: The research/audit subcategory reported training needs gap that requires close monitoring and possible intervention. This could be done by organizing and sponsorship physicians for training courses.

Introduction: Knowledge and skills in quantitative/numerical disciplines are some of the essential skills necessary for sustainable and successful administration and management in financing health care. It is not clear whether the personnel across relevant establishments in the health sector of Nigeria have the requisite capacity to implement and manage a performance-based financing project. This survey assessed the availability of certain technical skills among selected mid-level managers in charge of the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund Project (BHCPFP). Materials and Methods: Data were collected with the aid of a self-administered questionnaire developed from a review of the project document. A total population of mid-level managers from all the respective ministries was studied across the six states in Southwest Nigeria. Data collection was conducted between February and June 2019. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Frequency tables were generated and charts were constructed. Results: A total of 234 eligible participants were studied. Those who had formal training in quantitative/numerical-based skills such as accounting-related courses were about one-third, 77 (32.8%) and those who had acquired formal training in insurance-related disciplines were 91 (38.7%). A little above one-third, 66 (28.2%) had a form of on-the-job health insurance training. Conclusions: This study showed that mid-level managers had poor quantitative-related skills necessary for administrative and technical roles for implementation of BHCPFP. Mid-level managers should be trained and re-trained on those administrative and technical skills for better implementation of BHCPFP.

Abstract Background Tuberculosis is the world’s deadliest infectious disease and a leading cause of death in Nigeria. The availability of a functional healthcare system is critical for effective TB service delivery and attainment of national and global targets. This study was designed to assess readiness for TB service delivery in Oyo and Anambra states of Nigeria. Methods This was a facility-based study with a mixed-methods convergent parallel design. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 42 primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities in two TB high burden states. Data were collected using key informant interviews, a semi-structured instrument adapted from the WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment tool and facility observation using a checklist. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data were transcribed and analysed thematically. Data from both sources were integrated to generate conclusions. Results The domain score for basic amenities in both states was 48.8%; 47.0% in Anambra and 50.8% in Oyo state with 95% confidence interval [− 15.29, 7.56]. In Oyo, only half of the facilities (50%) had access to constant power supply compared to 72.7% in Anambra state. The overall general service readiness index for both states was 69.2% with Oyo state having a higher value (73.3%) compared to Anambra with 65.4% (p = 0.56). The domain score for availability of staff and TB guidelines was 57.1% for both states with 95% confidence interval [− 13.8, 14.4]. Indicators of this domain with very low values were staff training for the management of HIV and TB co-infection and training on MDR -TB. Almost half (47.6%) of the facilities experienced a stock out of TB drugs in the 3 months preceding the study. The overall tuberculosis-specific service readiness index for both states was 75%; this was higher in Oyo (76.5%) than Anambra state (73.6%) (p = 0.14). Qualitative data revealed areas of deficiencies for TB service delivery such as inadequate infrastructure, poor staffing, and gaps with continuing education on TB management. Conclusions The weak health system remains a challenge and there must be concerted actions and funding by the government and donors to improve the TB healthcare systems.

Background: To keep pace with existing as well as emerging public and population health challenges, continuing in-service professional development (CPD) of physicians is paramount. This study assessed the training needs of physicians in a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, South-West, Nigeria. Methods: This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design. Three hundred and fifty-five physicians were randomly selected. Data were collected with the aid of the Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Assessment tool. The instrument has five broad sub-sections: Research/audit, communication/teamwork, clinical tasks, administration, and management/supervisory tasks. In all, these subsections are made up of 30 items with their roles/tasks and were used to assess the training needs of individual study respondents. Charts and proportions were utilized to present the CPD training needs reported by physicians. Mann–Whitney U test was used to examine the difference in training needs between consultants and resident doctors. Results: A larger proportion of the study respondents were middle-aged adults. Respondents' ages were fairly distributed across the varying age brackets. Respondents within the age bracket 35–39 were the highest (30.36%), followed by those within ages 30–34 years (24.09%). With regard to training needs and capacity development, research/audit skills had the highest need (0.83). Furthermore, training that enhances managerial/supervisory skills had a rating of 0.68. Clinical tasks and administration tasks have the same rating (0.63), whereas communication/teamwork had the lowest rating. Consultants expressed higher training needs compared with resident doctors across all task domains. Conclusion: Quest for skills in research had the topmost priority among physicians, and thus, majority were likely to be receptive to training and acquisition of new skills. Future CPD training should reflect the critical needs for performance improvement, as indicated in this study.

Perceived quality of care is a determinant of uptake of health services. This study aimed to assess the determinants of quality of care of enrollees in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria. The outcome was satisfaction with health care services, which was used as a proxy for quality. Findings will assist in the intervention to enhance enrollment in the scheme and for universal health coverage attainment. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among enrollees in selected NHIS facilities in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data on satisfaction with health care were collected among selected 432 enrollees with the aid of an adapted semi-structured WHO-USAID interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi-square and multiple logistic regression models (α = 0.05). Among predictors of satisfaction with health services were younger age (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.05–3.25, p = .024), working in the private sector (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.03–3.28, p = .022), and seeking information about quality of services prior enrollment (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.04−2.53, p = .013). Targeted intervention based on the findings of this study should be implemented to improve satisfaction with the services offered.

Health insurance scheme is relatively new in many low to middle income countries. Awareness about and knowledge of the scheme is poor among potential beneficiaries. There are some misconceptions associated with health insurance, which contributes to its low acceptance in affected nations. The aim of this work is to present an information-education and communication concept that will serve as a social marketing tool that could enhance peoples’ understanding of the modus operandi of health insurance scheme, and as well as to demystify superstitious belief associated with it. This will contribute to a better understanding of the scheme among the people and enhance its uptake.

INTRODUCTION: the implementation and expansion of a health insurance scheme in the informal sector, particularly in developing countries, is a challenge. With the aid of an innovative Information-Education and Communication model, titled ''Understanding the concept of health insurance: An innovative social marketing tool'', an assessment of the awareness and perception of the scheme among market women was carried out. METHODS: