In Burma, the availability of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for rehabilitation professionals has been limited, exacerbated by increased demands for rehabilitation services due to political unrest. However, the ReLAB-HS clinical skills training programme offers a promising pathway for strengthening the skills of rehabilitation professionals, empowering them to provide top-tier services to their communities.
Tailored to address the specific requirements of rehabilitation professionals in Burma, the programme extends over a period of seven months. Adopting a hybrid learning approach, which combines online courses with in-person discussions and mentoring sessions, ensures effective and efficient knowledge transfer. Four programmes are planned, alongside multiple mentoring sessions featuring international subject matter experts, with the initial programme centred around gait training.
“After completing the gait training programme and mentoring sessions by Damien Howell, I implemented my knowledge into clinical practice. Surprisingly, there is a significant improvement in her gait pattern. It was a total surprise!”
Ms. Khaing Hsu Wai, a physiotherapist at Parami Hospital in Yangon, is among the participants of the clinical skills training programme witnessing immediate results. Her client, an 11-year-old girl diagnosed with transverse myelitis two years prior, has already experienced improvements. Observable gait showed immediate improvement after implementing skills learned in the training.
“We provided her with strength training and gait training for the first few sessions but there was no significant improvement in her gait pattern. After completing the gait training programme and mentoring sessions by Damien Howell, I implemented my knowledge into clinical practice. Surprisingly, there is a significant improvement in her gait pattern. It was a total surprise!” said her Physiotherapist, Ms Khaing Hsu Wai from Parami Hospital, Yangon, Burma.
Video footage recorded of the patient was subsequently shared and discussed with fellow participants during the initial mentoring session led by international expert Damien Howell.
The hybrid method employed in this clinical skills training has proven to enhance the clinical reasoning and technical skills of rehabilitation professionals. This aspect holds particular importance in strengthening workforce capabilities through CPD activities, especially in the absence of other viable training opportunities.
