Standardizing clinical culture specimen collection in Ethiopia: a training-of-trainers

Background: Proper specimen collection is central to improving patient care by ensuring optimal yield of diagnostic tests, guiding appropriate management, and targeting treatment. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and implementation of a training-of-trainers educational program designed to improve clinical culture specimen collection among healthcare personnel (HCP) in Ethiopia.

Methods: A Clinical Specimen Collection training package was created consisting of a Trainer's Manual, Reference Manual, Assessment Tools, Step-by-Step Instruction Guides (i.e., job aides), and Core Module PowerPoint Slides.

Results: A two-day course was used in training 16 master trainers and 47 facility-based trainers responsible for cascading trainings on clinical specimen collection to HCP at the pre-service, in-service, or national-levels. The Clinical Specimen Collection Package is offered online via The Ohio State University's CANVAS online platform.

Conclusions: The training-of-trainers approach may be an effective model for development of enhanced specimen collection practices in low-resource countries.