 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Federico R. León, PhD1, Verónica Espinoza2, Agustín Espinosa3, and Betty Meza2. (1) FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, Population Council, Lima, Los Libertadores 533, Of. 304, San Isidro, Lima, L-27, Peru, 348-6559, frleon@amauta.rcp.net.pe, (2) Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati, EsSalud, Domingo Cueto s/n, Lima, Peru, (3) Catholic University of Peru, Pasaje Pajatén 127, Lima 33, Peru
An evaluation bias, i.e., temporarily improved provider performance, seems to occur when a third party observes the family planning client-provider interaction. This study tested the evaluation bias hypothesis using standardized patients. Of 30 EsSalud facilities in Lima, Peru, 15 received training to improve family planning counseling. In posttest 1, providers were made aware that the next patient was a simulated client. In the pretest and posttest 2, the provider was not alerted. Both session length and quality of care significantly increased from pretest to posttest 1 and decreased from posttest 1 to posttest 2. This trend was similar in trained and not trained facilities and more marked in some behavioral areas (e.g., side effects/alarm signs) than others (e.g., interpersonal relations). Evaluators should be aware of the convenience of using the standardized patient technique rather than the direct observation of the client-provider interaction when the intention is to capture typical provider behavior.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Quality of Care,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.