[Strategies and Barriers to the Implementation of Continuing Education in Sentinel Hospitals for the Surveillance of COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in Honduras, 2022-2023Formação continuada: estratégias e barreiras de implementação em hospitais sentinela para a vigilância da segurança das vacinas contra a COVID-19 em Honduras, 2022-2023].

Abstract

Objective: To describe the continuing education strategies implemented as part of the academic training of health workers; related barriers and facilitators; and the perceptions of health workers in sentinel hospitals in Honduras regarding changes in their knowledge.

Methods: The implemented continuing education strategies are described, as are the findings of a questionnaire given to assess health workers' perceptions of the effectiveness of these strategies in the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies related to the surveillance of events supposedly attributable to vaccination, immunization, or adverse events of special interest. Barriers to participation in these strategies is also described.

Results: In the 2021-2023 period, 23 trainings were conducted with 384 participants, as well as two workshops with 134 participants, six rounds of awareness-raising with 242 professionals, 2 486 rounds of active searches twice a week in both sentinel hospitals, and an instant messaging system with 157 participants. The questionnaire obtained 154 responses from health workers. The main barriers were not realizing the questionnaire existed, limited availability of time, and no staff to replace them in the wards.

Discussion: The perception of health workers was that their knowledge increased and their ability to conduct sentinel surveillance improved. However, participation in continuing education strategies requires massive dissemination, the inclusion of topics that motivate professionals, and the implementation of an institutional policy that values the strategies and makes participation in them feasible.