IMPACT EVALUATION OF THE E - LEARNING PROGRAM: ADOLESCENT HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, PUC / PAHO

Purpose: In 2003, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Washington DC, established an alliance with the Adolescent Unit of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC), to develop a distance education program in "Adolescent Health and Development". PAHO awarded training grants to health professionals from Latin American and Caribbean countries until 2017. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of an E - learning program in "Adolescent Health and Development" in the performance of health professionals and functioning of health services. Methods: Descriptive study. The PUC database was used. 687 professionals with PAHO scholarships participated in the E-learning program between 2003 and 2017. A survey was sent via email after graduating, to evaluate the impact of the program. Three dimensions were analyzed, using a 1 to 10 scale. a) Improvements in individual professional competences: 17 competences defined by PAHO/ WHO to train providers in Adolescent comprehensive health care were used. These included: health and development areas; health programs and policies, and clinical care skills in specific health problems. b) Performance improvements: participant's perception of progress in adolescent health care, in five performance areas were assessed: change to a better job, greater autonomy, increase in resolutive capacity, greater patient satisfaction, and an improvement in their careers c) Improvements in the health system where they work: As a result of the implementation of what was learned. Results: 72% of the participants come from medical sciences, 14% come from psychology, and 14% from other professions. 69% are health providers, 17% are health authorities and 2% are academics. Improved perception of participants in 3 dimensions were found: · Improvements in individual professional competences: An average of 7 points was obtained, with higher scores in improving: a) effective interaction skills with adolescents and b) delivery of health care for adolescents, including HIV and other aspects of sexual and reproductive health. · Performance improvements: An average 7.2 was obtained. The highest scores were found in perception of patient satisfaction and resolutive capacity. · Improvements in the health system where they work: Improvement in treatment adherence by adolescents being the most relevant. Conclusions: This e - learning program for adolescent health and development, which has high tutor-student interaction and an emphasis on