Factors Influencing Training Transfer Among Infection Control Professionals Participating in Infectious Disease Training

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious disease training is considered vital in health care systems to improve knowledge, skills, and work performance of infection control professionals. However, the extent to which trainees effectively transfer knowledge, skills, and attitudes that they acquire through training has received little attention. This study aimed to identify factors influencing training transfer of infection control professionals receiving infectious disease training. Methods: This cross-sectional study selected infection control professionals who completed an infectious disease training program provided by Korea Human Resources Development Institute for Health and Welfare. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic variables, trainee characteristics, training design, work environment, and training transfer. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS (version 26.0). Results: The mean age of the 139 participants was 41.45 years, and 77% were female participants. Regression analysis indicated that the following factors significantly influenced the training transfer of infection control professionals and thereby decrease morbidity and mortality: for trainee characteristics, transfer experience (β = 0.205, P = 0.012) and motivation to learn (β = 0.196, P =0.016); for training design, learning objectives (β = 0.269, P = 0.021), goals (β = 0.356, P =0.023), and methods (β = 0.365, P = 0.020); and for the work environment, supervisor support (β = 0.275, P =0.024) and colleague support (β = 0.474, P = 0.022). Conclusion: Future training programs for improving training transfer should focus more on strategies to improve the motivation for training transfer. Trainees should be guided on (1) how to apply training knowledge in specific clinical contexts to improve their performance and (2) potential methods to get support from their supervisors and colleagues during training.