Observational studyGlobal health action2023
Does training on the WHO package of essential noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions enhance consultation quality? A real-world assessment of adherence to PEN protocol in primary health centres in the Republic of Moldova.
Observational study in Global health action, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed.
- Interdisciplinary training on noncommunicable diseases and sustained change in primary health care in the context of health reform, COVID-19, and war in Ukraine: A repeated qualitative study, 2016-2022.BMC public health · 2026Article
- National program for cardiovascular disease and hypertension in primary healthcare: WHO-PEN program initial scale-up in Iran (IraPEN).BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2026Article
- Implementation fidelity to the World Health Organization package of essential non-communicable disease interventions (PEN) during scale-up in Nepal's primary healthcare system: a mixed methods study.Implementation science communications · 2026Article
- Determinants of hypertension among Bhutanese adults: evidence from a national WHO STEPS survey.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- How prepared are urban primary care facilities to manage hypertension and type 2 diabetes in Dhaka, Bangladesh? A cross-sectional descriptive study of government urban dispensaries and NGO clinics.BMC primary care · 2026Article
- Personalised Nutrition Approaches in the Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review of Evidence and Practice.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Review
- Health indicators in the management of diabetes in Primary health care: Iran-package of Essential Non-communicable diseases (IraPEN) program.Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders · 2025Article
- Time-motion study in primary health care in moldova: How do family doctors and medical assistants spend their work time?PloS one · 2025Observational
- Implementation of WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable-Based Brief Behavior-Change Interventions in Primary Care: A Quasi-Experimental Study from Himachal Pradesh, India.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social MedicineArticle
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundNoncommunicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant global health challenge. Primary health centres are pivotal in addressing this challenge by providing essential care to NCD patients. The WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions has been designed to enhance the quality of NCD consultations and ensure adherence to the protocol. This study investigates the effects of PEN training in Moldova.
objectivesThe primary objective of this study is to assess the effects of training on WHO PEN on the quality of NCD consultations and adherence to the PEN protocol in a real -world setting in primary health centres in Moldova.
methodsAn observational, cross-sectional study was conducted, comparing primary health centres where health personnel received PEN training, provided by the Healthy Life project, to those where such training was not provided. In total, 24 family doctors and 24 medical assistants were observed for 233 workdays and covering 2,166 NCD consultations.
resultsIntervention primary health centres (PHCs) showed longer NCD consultation durations, with family doctors and medical assistants spending an added 1 minute 43 seconds and 3 minutes 10 seconds, respectively. These PHCs also reported a higher proportion of primary NCD consultations, indicating better screening for new NCD patients. Medical assistants in the intervention group took on a more pronounced role in NCD care. However, the findings also highlight the necessity to refine aspects of the PEN training, especially concerning follow-up consultations, risk assessments, and task delegation.
conclusionsThe findings suggest that the PEN training contributed to improvement of both the quality of NCD consultations and adherence to the PEN protocol. Yet, there is a need for enhancing the identified aspects of the PEN training. The findings highlight the potential of PEN training in primary healthcare settings for improved NCD management.
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