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Scientific Oral Presentations

Professional and Personal Development

Session: Scientific Oral Presentation 1 - Professional and Personal Development

Acceptability of a Virtual Otolaryngology Training Curriculum for Primary Healthcare Providers in Rwanda

Monday, October 13, 2025
9:36 AM - 9:42 AM EDT
Location: 235-236
Disclosure(s):
Kamala Pullakhandam, BA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

David A. Shaye, MD, MPH, FACS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Otolaryngologic diseases of the head and neck contribute greatly to the global surgery disease burden. And with only 23 ENTs for a population of 13.2 million, Rwanda has significant gaps in otolaryngologic care. This study developed and assessed the acceptability and effectiveness of the first virtual otolaryngology training for primary care providers in Rwanda.

Methods: A virtual training led by Rwandan otolaryngologists was aimed at teaching primary care providers about commonly encountered otolaryngology conditions. A pre-, immediate post-, and 1 month post-intervention survey of attendees aimed to measure the training’s acceptability, feasibility, relevance, and effectiveness. Descriptive statistics were used to compare responses.

Results: Seventy-four primary care providers attended. The number of respondents that answered surveys were 49 pre-intervention, 62 immediately post-intervention, and 30 participants 1-month post-intervention.

For acceptability, 90% of respondents reported the training was beneficial to their clinical practice. Regarding relevance, 98% agreed that all five of the presented topics were important to clinical practice. For feasibility, 80% of respondents preferred the online format over other methods of instruction.

Regarding effectiveness, objective knowledge-based questions showed an average score improvement of 17.59%. Furthermore, at least 96% of participants felt there would be an improvement in otolaryngology assessment, management, treatment, and referral decision-making. These results were maintained in the 1-month post-intervention survey, where 90% of respondents reported an improved ability to evaluate, manage, treat, and make referral decisions for otolaryngology cases.

Conclusions: The first virtual otolaryngology training focused on primary care providers in Rwanda was acceptable and effective based on attendee surveys. Given the burden of otolaryngology disease and otolaryngology workforce shortages, virtual training of primary care providers is an innovative format in resource-constrained health systems, such as in Rwanda.

    Senior Author(s)

  • GT

    Gratien Tuyishimire, MD

    Department of Otolaryngology, MCB Hospital
    Kigali, RWA

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MX

    Mary Xu, MD

    University of California, San Francisco, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Presenting Author(s)

  • Kamala Pullakhandam, BA

    Medical Student
    Harvard Medical School
    Boston, MA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Kamala Pullakhandam, BA

    Medical Student
    Harvard Medical School
    Boston, MA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • GC

    Gabrielle Cahill, MD, MPH

    University of California, Los Angeles Department of Head and Neck Surgery, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • David A. Shaye, MD, MPH, FACS

    Associate Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
    Massachusetts Eye & Ear, Harvard Medical School
    Boston, MA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • JU

    Josiane Umutoni, MD

    University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • JB

    John Bukuru, MD, MMED

    University of Rwanda, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • EG

    Edgard Gasana, MD

    Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • CN

    Charles Nkurunziza, MD

    University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.