Certificate Course in Occupational Safety and Health: A Capacity Building Program for Primary Care Physicians based on Adult Learning Model.

Context: The need for physicians qualified in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH) is growing with the growth of manufacturing and service sectors where maximum number of work-related morbidity and mortality occur. Aims: This article aims to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of the certificate course in occupational safety and health for training and capacity building of primary care physicians in OSH. Methods and Material: Guideline for reporting evidence-based practice educational interventions and teaching (GREET) was used for describing educational interventions. The outcome was assessed by comparing the mean scores. t test with P < 0.005 was considered a level of significance. Results: The result showed significant improvement in the cumulative pre- and post-test scores after each module. The certificate course is suitable for adult learning as there was no intergroup difference in knowledge after the program. Consistent with the findings, the improvement scores indicate that training has made a difference in the knowledge and learning of the trained physicians. Conclusions: This customized training intervention has high potential for scaling up while optimally addressing the scarcity of trained physicians in the OSH in high population density settings like India where a high number of vulnerable workforces work in the informal economy.

Emergence of diabetes education and capacity-building programs for primary care physicians in India.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death globally. India is home to the second-largest population suffering from diabetes. This underscores the need to build capacity of primary care physicians (PCPs) for better disease management. This narrative review article aims to describe the emergence of diabetes education and capacity-building programs for PCPs and its current situation in India. The review highlighted that major emphasis on diabetes was given only when the WHO estimated that morbidity and mortality due to diabetes would increase to 35% in India. As a result, National Diabetes Control Program was launched in 1987. Yet, very little attention was paid to diabetology in under-graduation. In the last decade, few public and private institutions have developed diabetes related capacity-building programs for PCPs independently or in collaborations. These programs include 16 fellowships, 4 diplomas, 12 certificate programs, and 6 other diabetes training programs, which have their own pros and cons. As medical science is changing rapidly, PCPs need to upgrade their skills and knowledge regularly to manage NCDs such as diabetes more effectively and efficiently. This can be possible only if scientific, evidence-based, and quality-oriented capacity-building programs are provided to the healthcare workforce.