P292 Online HIV/STI-Clinical Training for Eleven Pacific Island Countries Provided by the UNDP Multi-Country Western Pacific Integrated HIV/TB Programme

O’Connor, C.; Cati, J.; Maharaj, P.; Sami, P.; Faletoese-Su’a, T.; Tovmasyan, G.

BackgroundThe Pacific Islands have a low HIV prevalence, but high rates of STI’s and large high-risk populations. The UNDP Programme supports 11 Pacific Island Countries (PICs). In-country clinical training are provided as well as HIV/TB diagnostics, treatments, and specialist HIV clinical advice. In 2020, in-country support was not possible because of the COVID19 pandemic.ApproachAfter discussion with UNDP partners and PICs HIV/STI-healthcare workers, we presented the following online education:Monthly webinars. Eight one-hour webinars on Zoom, each repeated 4 hours later as the PICs span 7 time-zones. These case-based educational webinars covered HIV/STI clinical care related topics. Guest speakers were invited for specialist topics.In-country HIV/STI-online education workshops run over one-day for nine PICs and over half-day for Niue and Tuvalu, the two smallest PICs. The workshops ran in late 2020 to build on the webinar knowledge and were tailored to in-country needs. Training was mainly case based, co-facilitated by a worker from the Fijian HIV-positive peoples NGO, FJN+, with guest speakers invited for specialist topics.OutcomesMonthly webinars: 323 individual attendances for the 8 webinars. 114 evaluations were returned;95% found the HIV webinars very helpful and 92% would recommend them to other clinical staff. As poor internet was a problem, the presentation slides and the recorded webinars were sent to the PIC attendees.In-country online HIV/STI-education workshops: 241 participants across the PICs. A planning meeting was conducted with each PIC. The average scores in questionnaires pre– and post-training doubled from 40% to 80%. Participants found the case-based training useful and requested follow-up training.Innovation/SignificanceThis is first time in the HIV/STI clinical support to the Pacific has been provided on-line and despite internet challenges, it is an economical and efficient way to provide ongoing HIV/STI clinical education in this remote setting.