JHPIEGO TrainerNews™ |
JHPIEGO TrainerNews Survey Results and
Drawing Winner
(November 2003)
In September 2003, JHPIEGO invited subscribers of JHPIEGO TrainerNews to respond to a survey to help us get to know our readers and improve the newsletter. Of the 1670 subscribers, 165 responded to the survey. Here is a look at the results.
Our Readers
The answers to survey questions highlighted the variety of professions represented by our readership. Most professions mentioned were health-related.
Most of the respondents (74%) indicated that the majority of their work is in the field of reproductive health. The most frequent profession indicated was physician (43%), followed by nurse (13%), midwife (8%) and student (3%). Outside of these professions, 33% indicated they were in other professions, such as health educator, program director or manager, social worker, and reproductive health data analyst.
Many respondents indicated they held additional professional positions. The most frequent additional position indicated was reproductive health trainer (57%), followed by trainer in another field (26%), faculty member (23%), government official (11%). Outside of responses specifying these positions, 34% of responses cited other additional professional positions such as training manager, family planning state office consultant, RH researcher, and community health outreach worker.
Usefulness of the Newsletter
JTN newsletter staff members were happy to hear that the majority of respondents find the newsletter useful for their work. Respondents indicated that the information in JTN assisted them with improving patient services that they directly deliver or supervise at a health facility (strongly agree, 23%; agree, 43%). Respondents also noted that the newsletter provided information they could use in their work or studies (strongly agree, 50%; agree, 43%). More specifically, when asked to indicate all the ways they used the newsletter, 71% of responses cited using the information for preparing teaching or training sessions; 67% for professional or academic interest and development; 41% for preparing a report, paper, or journal article; and 25% for developing policy or national service guidelines. Of responses indicating other ways, 14% indicated that they use information in the newsletter for purposes such as sending the information to colleagues, getting ideas on educational issues, performing a transfer of training evaluation, and keeping up-to-date on developments in the field.
In response to the question about specific examples of using the newsletter, the most frequent comment was that readers are using the information to incorporate into teaching and training they are planning or conducting. One reader noted,
"I design and manage RH projects for which a team of professionals is involved in the implementation at the field level under my responsibility. The most important activities of our projects are TOT [Training of Trainers] and training of local operators. The Team benefits from timely receiving updates and information delivered both by JHPIEGO TrainerNews and the ReproLine website. The training tools are particularly appreciated and used by the Team: I have seen clear improvement of outcomes since such tools have been used in projects implementation."
The next most frequent examples of use cited were sharing the information with others (e.g., nursing students, obstetrical residents, Ministry of Health officials) and developing manuals, such as a Quality Management Manual for reproductive health centers.
The section of the newsletter that most respondents found helpful was Training Skills (58%), following by What's New in ReproLine (19%).
Using the Companion Service: ReproLine Website
Most survey respondents (80%) indicated that they also visit JHPIEGO's companion service, the Reproductive Health Online (ReproLine) website <http://www.reproline.jhu.edu>.
When asked to indicate how frequently they visit Reproline, 32% of the respondents said they visit monthly, 27% weekly, 21% a few times a year, and 3% daily.
Suggestions for Improvements to the Newsletter
Readers suggested a number of ideas to improve the newsletter. The most frequent suggestion was to have the newsletter translated into multiple languages: Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Indonesian, Portuguese, and Russian. The next most frequent suggestion concerned format. While those with older e-mail programs preferred the plain text format, users with newer e-mail programs requested receiving the newsletter in a graphical format such as HTML or Adobe Acrobat .pdf that would more closely resemble a print publication.
Readers also suggested topics that they would like to see covered in the newsletter. Adolescent RH was frequently mentioned, as was additional information on contraceptive methods (e.g., contraceptive advances, methods for special population groups). Finally, readers suggested including more examples of lessons learned from RH programs in developing countries.
Congratulations to the Winner of the Survey Drawing!
Respondents to the JHPIEGO TrainerNews survey were entered into a drawing for a free copy of ModCal (Modified Computer-Assisted Learning) for Clinical Training Skills. The learning package includes a CD-ROM, reference manual, trainer notebook and participant handbook. ModCal for CTS is interactive, multimedia courseware designed to help service providers (physicians, nurses and midwives) become more effective inservice trainers or preservice faculty.
The winner of the drawing was Ms. Rebekah Carey, a nurse and trainer in Zambia who works with women with HIV. Ms. Carey remarks about the newsletter,
"Well done. This has been a very useful tool in an environment where there is a dearth of information. Since it is almost impossible for our computer to stay online long enough to access a website, the email format of your newsletter is a real lifesaver."
For more information or questions about the survey, contact Theresa Norton tnorton@jhpiego.net.