Rojas RL, Ginorio GDE, Nuñez FFA, Valdespino MI, Hernández CN, Sánchez AML, Montoto MV

Language: Spanish
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ABSTRACT

Introduction: despite its various limitations, optical microscopy continues to be the reference technique to diagnose malaria. Some of these limitations are associated to conditions in laboratories, whereas others have to do with the training and experience of the personnel who read thick- and thin-film smears.
Objective: evaluate the practical skills for the microscopic diagnosis of malaria in three provinces of the Republic of Cuba.
Methods: the study was conducted from October to November 2016, and included 45 participants from the provinces of Pinar del Río, Villa Clara and Santiago de Cuba. It was divided into three stages: 1) evaluation of the practical skills for the microscopic diagnosis of malaria and detection of practical insufficiencies related to it, 2) educational intervention aimed at attenuating the practical deficiencies found, and 3) evaluation of the efficacy of the educational intervention conducted. All analyses were performed using the statistical software packages EpiInfo version 6.04 for Windows and Epidat 3.1.
Results: practical insufficiencies were found in the conduct of malaria microscopic diagnosis by the technical personnel in charge of this task. These were mainly related to microscopic and morphological aspects, affecting the quality of the microscopic diagnosis. The educational intervention carried out was effective, for it significantly improved the practical skills related to the microscopic diagnosis of the disease in the group of persons participating in the study.
Conclusions: the results obtained will serve as foundation for implementation of a possible educational intervention aimed at improving the quality of malaria diagnosis in the network of Cuban laboratories.