Trainees' Feedback for the Assessment of Cupping (Al-Hijamah) Training Programs Directed towards Healthcare Professionals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: The feedback of attendees' constitutes an important tool for the evaluation of training programs directed towards healthcare professionals.

Objective: Using trainees' feedback, this study aimed to assess cupping (Al-Hijamah) training programs tailored for healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out involving 483 healthcare workers who attended the cupping training programs conducted multiple times by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in Riyadh city. The participants completed a self-designed 6-item assessment form with a 5-point Likert scale at the end of each course.

Results: Trainees rated trainers (4.8 or 96.9%), organizational setup (4.2 or 84.8%), content relevance (4.5 or 90.6%), working and learning methods (4.5 or 90.7%), achievement of objectives (4.5 or 90.9%) and overall evaluation (4.9 or 97.1%) with a range of 4 (good-84.8% to excellent-97.1%) to 5 on Likert scale. The training program satisfied their expectations as reported by 94.2% of trainees and 99.1% agreed that they were the right person to attend the course. A proportion of trainees (98%) reported to recommend this course for their colleagues. Participants gained the significant knowledge from infection control measures, research and evidence based cupping. The most important skills acquired by trainees were proper scarification and precisely selecting points of cupping. The trainees suggested increase in number of case studies, sessions and duration of hands-on training for improving training course.

Conclusion: The attendees' feedback positively supported all the six items of assessment form concerning both trainers and trainees and offered some strategies for improving training courses. The evaluation of training programs using trainees' feedback or other methods needs to be regularly practiced in all healthcare centers of learning and training not only in Saudi Arabia but also other Gulf countries.