Evaluating ECAMM-based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in Hunan Province, China
BackgroundThe rapid and accurate diagnosis of malaria has contributed to China’s remarkable achievement in malaria elimination. In the post-elimination phase, microscopic examination remains crucial for preventing the reintroduction of imported malaria. This study developed and validated a 4-day ext...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1598917/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850130852957126656 |
|---|---|
| author | Wei Ning Shi-feng Zhuang Lan Wen Ming-zhong Xu Miao-miao Wang Fang Peng Fei-fan Huang Bin Tian Bin Tian |
| author_facet | Wei Ning Shi-feng Zhuang Lan Wen Ming-zhong Xu Miao-miao Wang Fang Peng Fei-fan Huang Bin Tian Bin Tian |
| author_sort | Wei Ning |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe rapid and accurate diagnosis of malaria has contributed to China’s remarkable achievement in malaria elimination. In the post-elimination phase, microscopic examination remains crucial for preventing the reintroduction of imported malaria. This study developed and validated a 4-day external competency assessment training program for malaria microscopists based on the External Competency Assessment for Malaria Microscopists (ECAMM) framework, to enhance diagnostic proficiency among laboratory personnel in public health institutions.MethodsCourse design, blood smear selection, evaluation methods, and scoring criteria strictly adhered to WHO guidelines. Participants underwent one pre-training test and four post-training assessments involving 48 blood smears to evaluate diagnostic accuracy in qualitative identification and species differentiation. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on training needs, skill improvement trajectories, diagnostic error patterns, competency predictors, and participant satisfaction. 24 participants from public health institutions across 14 prefecture-level jurisdictions in Hunan Province completed the program with heterogeneous performance outcomes.Results75% of participants had received no formal malaria microscopy training in the preceding 5 years. Post-training assessments demonstrated significant improvements: negative smear recognition accuracy increased by 29.86%, positive smear identification by 25.52%, and species differentiation accuracy by 48.96%. The predominant diagnostic error was interspecies confusion, notably the misidentification of Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale) as Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae)(20.8% of errors). Trainee competency showed no significant correlation with age, gender, or educational background (p > 0.05). Participant satisfaction ratings consistently reached “very satisfied” with almost all training components.ConclusionThis external capacity assessment training program effectively enhanced short-term malaria microscopy proficiency. We propose institutionalizing this model as a national certification program to maintain diagnostic competency through regular training and quality monitoring, particularly targeting primary healthcare facilities at the township level. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e07a7b0eb07a43a8a0e6550a0985f428 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e07a7b0eb07a43a8a0e6550a0985f4282025-08-20T02:32:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-06-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15989171598917Evaluating ECAMM-based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in Hunan Province, ChinaWei Ning0Shi-feng Zhuang1Lan Wen2Ming-zhong Xu3Miao-miao Wang4Fang Peng5Fei-fan Huang6Bin Tian7Bin Tian8Department of Clinical Laboratory, Changsha Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of Endemic and Parasitic Diseases Control, Hunan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Changsha Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Changsha Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Changsha Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Changsha Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Changsha Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Changsha Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, ChinaXiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaBackgroundThe rapid and accurate diagnosis of malaria has contributed to China’s remarkable achievement in malaria elimination. In the post-elimination phase, microscopic examination remains crucial for preventing the reintroduction of imported malaria. This study developed and validated a 4-day external competency assessment training program for malaria microscopists based on the External Competency Assessment for Malaria Microscopists (ECAMM) framework, to enhance diagnostic proficiency among laboratory personnel in public health institutions.MethodsCourse design, blood smear selection, evaluation methods, and scoring criteria strictly adhered to WHO guidelines. Participants underwent one pre-training test and four post-training assessments involving 48 blood smears to evaluate diagnostic accuracy in qualitative identification and species differentiation. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on training needs, skill improvement trajectories, diagnostic error patterns, competency predictors, and participant satisfaction. 24 participants from public health institutions across 14 prefecture-level jurisdictions in Hunan Province completed the program with heterogeneous performance outcomes.Results75% of participants had received no formal malaria microscopy training in the preceding 5 years. Post-training assessments demonstrated significant improvements: negative smear recognition accuracy increased by 29.86%, positive smear identification by 25.52%, and species differentiation accuracy by 48.96%. The predominant diagnostic error was interspecies confusion, notably the misidentification of Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale) as Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae)(20.8% of errors). Trainee competency showed no significant correlation with age, gender, or educational background (p > 0.05). Participant satisfaction ratings consistently reached “very satisfied” with almost all training components.ConclusionThis external capacity assessment training program effectively enhanced short-term malaria microscopy proficiency. We propose institutionalizing this model as a national certification program to maintain diagnostic competency through regular training and quality monitoring, particularly targeting primary healthcare facilities at the township level.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1598917/fullECAMMmicroscopistmalariacompetencytraining course |
| spellingShingle | Wei Ning Shi-feng Zhuang Lan Wen Ming-zhong Xu Miao-miao Wang Fang Peng Fei-fan Huang Bin Tian Bin Tian Evaluating ECAMM-based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in Hunan Province, China Frontiers in Public Health ECAMM microscopist malaria competency training course |
| title | Evaluating ECAMM-based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in Hunan Province, China |
| title_full | Evaluating ECAMM-based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in Hunan Province, China |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating ECAMM-based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in Hunan Province, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating ECAMM-based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in Hunan Province, China |
| title_short | Evaluating ECAMM-based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in Hunan Province, China |
| title_sort | evaluating ecamm based training efficacy for malaria microscopists in hunan province china |
| topic | ECAMM microscopist malaria competency training course |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1598917/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weining evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina AT shifengzhuang evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina AT lanwen evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina AT mingzhongxu evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina AT miaomiaowang evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina AT fangpeng evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina AT feifanhuang evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina AT bintian evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina AT bintian evaluatingecammbasedtrainingefficacyformalariamicroscopistsinhunanprovincechina |