BP-Taking Competency and its Association with Professional Factors Among Barangay Health Workers in Pasig City Using a Self-Developed OSCE Tool

• Main Authors: Rafael, Janine Bianca Marie M, Arandia, Louise Kaye G, Cruz, Earl Nathaniel P, Galban, Dexter A, Madrid, Arlo Cedric M, Teaño, Anica Rae T, Migriño, Julius, Jr
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2023
• Subjects: Community health workers; blood pressure; clinical competence; Community Health and Preventive Medicine; Medical Education; Medicine and Health Sciences; Public Health
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/asmph-pubs/115
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Background Barangay health workers (BHWs) are crucial in the implementation of the Primary Health Care Approach; and regular assessment and improvement of their skills in taking blood pressures (BP) provide for more reliable and inclusive health monitoring in Philippine communities. Objective The study aimed to determine the association between professional factors (i.e.; past experience and training; compensation and incentives; and feedback and praise) and the level of competency in BP-taking of BHWs in selected barangays in Pasig City using a self-developed Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) tool. Methodology An OSCE tool to measure BP-taking competency was created and validated. The level of competency in BP-taking of BHWs was determined by direct observation using the developed OSCE tool. The association of professional factors and OSCE scores were analyzed using a stepwise linear regression model. Results The developed OSCE tool showed good content validity indexes (I-CVI>0.70; S-CVI>0.70) and high scale percentage agreement (0.930). A total of 97 BHWs participated in the study; and their average OSCE score was 17.567 out of 32 (54.897%). Stepwise linear regression showed significant positive association (p Conclusion Previous literature validates the results that experience influences skills; albeit marginal in this study. Positive attitudes toward monetary compensation appear to be a stronger predictor of higher OSCE scores as compared to actual salary and even nonsalaryincentives; suggesting an altruistic component in BHW performance of duties. We recommend that further studies investigate nonsalary factors that affect BHW performance.