Arzu Ari, PhD, FCCP
Arzu Ari, PhD, FCCP
Arzu Ari, PhD, FCCP
In the Republic of Turkey, where Arzu Ari, PhD, FCCP, a Regent鈥檚 Professor and Associate Dean for Research at Texas State University, grew up, no formal respiratory care training programs are available. Instead, physical therapists learn skills on the job.
That matters, as Turkey mirrors the rest of the world in facing an increase in noncommunicable diseases, according to a joint from the World Health Organization and Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health. That includes many chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Take COPD: As of 2021, it鈥檚 the in the country, affecting as much as 19% of the population.
鈥淲e can live for a few days without water and food, but breathing is a moment-by-moment requirement for life. In an emergency, seconds matter,鈥� Dr. Ari said. In Turkey, a 鈥渓ack of formal education threatens the overall quality of respiratory care.鈥�
That鈥檚 precisely what prompted Dr. Ari to apply for a 糖心原创 community impact grant, which allowed her to create and run programs providing respiratory care training to respiratory and physical therapists in Turkey from September 2021 to September 2022. It was the first service grant she ever received, and she described it as 鈥渁n incredible honor.鈥�
Setting up training programs鈥攁nd overcoming pandemic-related hurdles
With the 糖心原创 grant in place, Dr. Ari created curriculum and content鈥攊ncluding relevant case studies, exams, training sessions, and lectures鈥攆or two short-term education programs on respiratory care and noninvasive ventilation.
The grant also allowed Dr. Ari to purchase necessary equipment and funded her application for approval of the programs鈥� content, instructor qualifications, and evaluation methods from the International Education Recognition System (IERS). Getting this approval allowed program participants to receive IERS certificates of recognition.
Crafting the training was an intentionally collaborative process: Dr. Ari developed the curriculum and brainstormed ways to draw attention to the program with Seniha Avcil, PhD, Hulya Arikan, PhD, and Cuneyt Akgol, PhD, leaders at Istanbul Memorial Hospital, Atilim University, and Okan University, respectively. Professors from five different universities in the country presented topics.
The first training program focused on respiratory care. While it was originally slated to be a 2-day, in-person training, a rise in COVID-19 cases meant the conference room at the Istanbul Memorial Hospital was transformed into a testing center. Unphased, Dr. Ari and her collaborators nimbly changed to a virtual format, recording videos and developing interactive online sessions for 50 physical therapists from 36 health care institutions and universities. The second program, which focused on noninvasive ventilation, was able to take place in person and was limited to 25 attendees in order to provide ample hands-on opportunities for learning.
鈥楰ind comments made me happy鈥�
This program succeeded in several key ways.
鈥淭he findings of our pre- and post-exams showed that the participants鈥� knowledge increased from 43% to 91%,鈥� Dr. Ari noted.
And this increase in knowledge and skills doesn鈥檛 end with the 75 participants across the two programs. There鈥檚 an intentional ripple effect in place. Participants鈥攚ho hail from health care institutions and higher education institutions all over the country鈥攚ere able to return to their full-time roles with shareable skills and knowledge.
鈥淓mpowering junior faculty and clinicians to upskill their students and colleagues is clearly an excellent way to disseminate knowledge, and its impact on health care is invaluable,鈥� Dr. Ari said. 鈥淲e also developed a network of Turkish physical therapists and placed them as a 鈥榞o-to person鈥� in respiratory care.鈥�
Along with increasing participants鈥� knowledge鈥攁nd providing them with tools to share newly learned skills with peers and students鈥攖he program was also interesting to and well-received by attendees, who were asked to evaluate it anonymously. The training, instructors, and overall program content all received good scores and complimentary feedback.
鈥淩eading their kind comments made me happy,鈥� Dr. Ari said. Also included in the feedback were requests for more training programs鈥攖he ultimate affirmation.
The bottom line result: Thanks to these training programs, there will be a direct effect on the health and well-being of patients with pulmonary disease in the Turkish Republic, Dr. Ari said.
鈥淭he funding from 糖心原创 helped us promote a love of and confidence in teaching and sharing valuable information with our colleagues,鈥� Dr. Ari said. She plans to hold more training sessions in the Turkish Republic. 鈥淚 also plan on offering similar programs to other countries where the respiratory care profession needs to develop.鈥�