Assessing competence for helminthiases: A lesson learnt from national contest of parasitic diseases in China in 2012-2016.

This study aimed to assess the competency of health professionals on helminthiasis control in China. The assessment system comprised of two parts, one being the parasitological knowledge test and the other a technical skills assessment. The knowledge test mainly examined morphology, epidemiology, life history and diagnosis of common and important parasites. The skills assessment consisted of sample slides making and species identification using microscopy. From 2012 to 2016, a total of 616 participants from different levels of parasitic diseases prevention and control departments of CDC took part in the assessment. The results had shown a high level of academic knowledge among participants. Accuracy rates of schistosomiasis, echinococcosis, food-borne helminthiases, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis were all above 60%. This showed an excellent knowledge level of helminthiases by participants. However, among all 616 participants, 94.97% passed the thick-smear passing test (>= 60%), while in microscopy tests the equivalent was only 43.67%. Competencies in different districts varied. It is imperative to set up a North-South skill exchange mechanism of helminthiases diagnostic techniques and to apply new diagnostic tools widely to strengthen helminthiases prevention and control in China.