The Effect of Training of School Physicians on their Knowledge Regarding Surveillance in Alexandria

Background: Surveillance is important in schools. Training of school health physicians on surveillance is recommended in order to improve the disease surveillance system. The aim of the current study is to assess the effect of a training program on the knowledge of school physicians regarding surveillance. Subjects and methods: Seventy school health physicians from all Health Insurance Organization districts were included in the study. Assessment of their baseline knowledge regarding surveillance was done using a pre-designed self -administered structured questionnaire (pretest). Accordingly, an intervention program in the form of a workshop was prepared to raise their knowledge regarding surveillance. Within one week after the end of the intervention, assessment of the training program was done using the same data collection tool (post -test). Results: After the intervention, the percentage of physicians with poor and fair knowledge levels regarding surveillance decreased from 37.4% to 10.4% and from 50.7% to 40.3% respectively, while those with good knowledge level increased from 11.9% to 49.3%.The difference in the mean knowledge score before and after the intervention was statistically significant. In a multiple linear regression model, two factors significantly affected the school physicians’ knowledge score after the intervention. These factors were the total knowledge score before the intervention and the physicians' age. Conclusion: Training of school physicians on disease surveillance affectstheir level of knowledge regarding surveillancewhich is essential for planning and evaluation of communicable diseases' prevention and control.