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Syahwal M, Aluddin A, Patayani Y. Effectiveness of Combined Lecture and Simulation Training for Health Cadres in Non-pharmacological Joint Pain Management in Indonesia. Iran J Health Sci 2026; 14 (2) :115-122
URL: http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-1144-en.html

Background and Purpose: Joint pain is a significant global health challenge, affecting more than half of the elderly population worldwide. In Indonesia, the prevalence increases substantially with age, exceeding 65% among individuals aged 60 years and older, making it a priority concern in geriatric public health. In the context of Indonesian primary healthcare, health cadres occupy strategic positions as frontline community-based health service providers. However, their competence in non-pharmacological management of joint pain remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combined lectures and simulation training in improving health cadre knowledge and skills in joint pain management. 
Materials and Methods: A one-group pre–post quasi-experimental study was conducted in July 2025 involving 35 health cadres from Puskesmas Ranomeeto, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, selected through total sampling. Knowledge and skills were measured on a 0–100 scale using internally developed assessment tools. Participants were active health cadres with at least two years of service. The intervention comprised a 90-minute health education lecture on elderly joint pain followed by hands-on simulation of white ginger and shallot compress therapy. Skills were evaluated using standardized observation checklists. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with effect size calculation. 
Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in both knowledge (pre: 60.9; post: 81.5; Δ=20.6; W=10, P<0.001, r=−0.962) and skill (pre: 57.4; post: 80.9; Δ=23.5; W=0, P<0.001, r=−1) assessment. Both outcomes demonstrated large effect sizes, with skills showing a marginally greater improvement than knowledge, suggesting that the combined lecture-and-simulation training effectively enhanced practical competence across all cadres.
Conclusion: Combined lecture and simulation training significantly improved the health cadre’s knowledge and skills in non-pharmacological management of joint pain. This approach is recommended as an effective strategy for community-based health education.