#80: Developing and Implementing an Infectious Diseases Training Seminar for Global Healthcare Providers for Children with Cancer

Background Well-trained and dedicated personnel for infection care and prevention is essential for optimal care in pediatric oncology centers. Feedback from global collaborators consistently identifies education and training as a priority. We collaboratively designed and implemented a blended methodology training course focused on four essential themes: infectious complications in pediatric cancer; quality in infection care; quality in infection prevention; and, sustainability, research, and dissemination. Methods Using our team’s subject matter expertise and experience developing training materials, we designed the training seminar comprising two components: (1) an 8-week distance-learning segment delivered online through our free, education website (www.Cure4Kids.org) which focuses on building foundational knowledge in the identified essential themes of infection diseases; and, (2) a 2-week residential training seminar delivered face-to-face at St. Jude Children’s Hospital, which consolidates training through interactive lectures, workshops, clinical and research area tours, and research project presentations. Results The initial launch in 2017 trained 22 healthcare providers from 17 healthcare institutions in 10 countries. Knowledge gain from pretest to posttest for each module was significant (P < 0.001). Satisfaction with course delivery was high; most participants (93–100%) found each module’s content relevant to their daily practice. For residential training, participants rated each day as either good (median: 10%; range: 5–25%) or outstanding (median: 90%; range: 75–95%). Individual research projects developed by course participants focused on bloodstream infections, febrile neutropenia, multi-drug-resistant organisms, fungal infections, hand hygiene, antibiotic prophylaxis, and infection prevention. After the course conclusion, nearly half (n = 9) implemented their project idea in their clinical practice or prepared it for submission as academic merit or to a scientific conference. Now in its fourth year, the course has also incorporated training in leadership and quality. As of December 2019, this Infectious Diseases Training Seminar has trained 145 participants from 102 institutions in 48 countries. Graduates of the course formed two professional networks, one in Latin America and another in the Asia Pacific region. Members of the network participate in local capacity building, research, quality improvement, and education in infection care and prevention. Conclusions The course has and continues to meet the verbalized need for education and training opportunities in infection care and prevention for the pediatric cancer patient population. Our experience models how targeted training efforts can strengthen the quality of the healthcare workforce for improving outcomes in pediatric cancer care globally.