International Continuing Education for Rehabilitation Workers in Honduras: a Pre-test, Post-test Evaluation.

Background: The knowledge of Honduran healthcare workers who deliver rehabilitation services can be enhanced by support from community-engaged academic collaborations outside the country. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate reactions and learning linked to two continuing education workshops for rehabilitation workers in northern Honduras. Method: A pre-test post-test study design was used. In September 2017, faculty from Canada and Colombia, together with health professionals from Honduras, facilitated two neurorehabilitation workshops - one in a rehabilitation centre and the other in a family support organisation located in northern Honduras. The participants were physiotherapists, physicians, nurses and educational professionals, as well as a psychologist, kinesiologist, and non-professionals trained onsite. Seventeen participants att ended the 'Acquired brain injury/spinal cord injury workshop' (adult workshop), and 15 att ended the 'Rehabilitation for children with impaired neuromotor development workshop' (paediatric workshop). They completed three questionnaires before the workshops: one on sociodemographic information; one related to knowledge; and, the Modifi ed Stages of Learning Questionnaires (MSLQs). Three questionnaires were completed after the workshops: the Modifi ed Kirkpatrick; a knowledge questionnaire; and, the MSLQ. Results: Most of the participants agreed that the workshops had positive eff ects in two of the four Kirkpatrick levels that were evaluated: reaction and learning. In the MSLQs of the paediatric workshop, there was a statistically signifi cant change in the percentage of participants who moved from scanning/evaluation stages in the pre-test to learning/gaining experience in the post-test, in three of the six topics. Three of the knowledge questions showed important learning eff ects. Conclusion and Implications: Workshops off ered through an international collaboration resulted in enhancing learning and knowledge of neurological rehabilitation workers in Honduras. This initiative has the potential to improve the quality of care for people with neurological conditions in the region. Participants evaluated the workshops as relevant and held very positive att itudes about the perceived outcomes. The inclusion of local practitioners in planning the workshops and selecting the topics appeared to have aided their relevance. It is recommended that workshop planners take adequate time to ensure relevancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]