Training needs on community-based rehabilitation of commune health workers in Viet Nam

Purpose To identify the training needs regarding Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) among commune health workers in Vietnam. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Nghe An province from 2021 to 2022. Quantitative data were collected from 114 health workers using structured interviews. Qualitative data were gathered through 16 in-depth interviews (IDI) and 8 focus group discussions (FGD). Results The majority of participants were female (70.2%). The primary fields of study were nursing and general medicine, with no participants specialized in rehabilitation. All participants (100%) expressed a need for training, particularly on the “Disability Model” (64.9%). Health workers preferred training in the form of group discussions, led by instructors from the provincial level or a university. The preferred training locations were district health centers or commune People's Committees. They desired a course duration of 1–3 days, held once a year. Conclusions It is essential to strengthen continuous, periodic training on CBR knowledge and practical skills for grassroots health workers. These training sessions should be organized as direct workshops at the district and commune levels, led by senior health officials, to better support people with disabilities and their caregivers.