Issues in the Design of Professional Training Programmes for Health Educators: The Case of Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Within recent times, health educators have been recognizing the need for professional in-service training. This has resulted in various attempts by relevant institutions to design suitable training programmes. This paper highlights the global and local context that has contributed to the perceived need for training. The universal issue of professional training and the current roles, qualifications, and experiences of the health educator in Trinidad and Tobago are discussed. A typical training approach utilized by one institution in Trinidad is also examined, in relation to theories of design methodology. The paper concludes by drawing attention to the operational and theoretical issues that must be addressed in designing suitable, in-service professional training programmes for health educators in Trinidad and Tobago.