DHIS2 Online Academy Coordinator
Visit the DHIS2 Online Academy: https://academy.dhis2.org
DHIS2 Online Academy Coordinator
Visit the DHIS2 Online Academy: https://academy.dhis2.org
The district health information system (DHIS) is currently used in more than 40 developing countries. The project aims in finding effective training methods to improve user’s learning outcomes and in grooming mentors that can attract new users. Based on literature recommendations and a user survey, an eLearning course through an in-app in the software is under development to be used in low connectivity areas. The eLearning course will emphasize interactivity, motivation, practice exercises and feedback. In addition to the normal user level, this course also has a mentor level to be taken by some users in each site where the system is used, such that the mentors can guide new users locally.
Learning to use distributed business systems requires expensive and sustained training efforts. An approach to nurture local users to become mentors for colleagues has been developed as an alternative to training courses. A user level plus a mentor level distance learning course were evaluated amongst users of a health information system in Malawi. The user level course was adequate for users with some computer fluency, while IT novices required a mentor present. The mentor level course required the mentors to have higher system competence than most of the relevant users had. An advanced level course between the user and the mentor levels is therefore suggested, in addition to including more practicals and cooperative, reflective components in the mentor course. With such amendments, distance learning courses can replace most face-to-face training courses and training of trainers approaches for implementation of information systems.