Long-term impact of health policy and management training for health experts from the LMICs: 2022 Dr. LEE Jong-wook fellowship program

Abstract

Background Strengthening health leadership and management capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is critical for building resilient health systems. The Dr. Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program (LJWFP), implemented by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, was designed to equip public health administrators with competencies in policy implementation and system strengthening. However, long-term behavioural impacts of such programs are rarely evaluated beyond satisfaction and knowledge gains. This study assessed the long-term impact of the 2022 LJWFP cohort on competency achievement, satisfaction and workplace application using the Kirkpatrick evaluation framework. Methods This mixed methods study analysed data from 13 fellows who participated in the 2022 LJWFP. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-training assessments, participant surveys and supervisor and peer evaluations. Qualitative evidence was obtained through follow-up assessments and structured field visits. Descriptive statistics summarized key outcomes and Pearson&apos;s correlation analysis examined associations among competency achievement, training satisfaction and workplace application over a 2-y follow-up period. Results The program demonstrated high training satisfaction, with substantial gains in knowledge and competency. The correlation between competency achievement and satisfaction was moderate and statistically significant (r=0.488, p<0.05), whereas the relationship between competency and field application was moderate but not statistically significant (r=0.445, p<0.05). A strong, statistically significant correlation was observed between satisfaction and field application (r=0.776, p<0.001), suggesting that participants who were more satisfied with the training were more likely to apply their learning in practice. Conclusions The program effectively enhanced leadership skills and supported post-training applications. Future iterations should integrate mentorship and follow-up mechanisms, expand digital learning tools and measure system-level impact longitudinally. These findings highlight the value of context-tailored fellowships in advancing public health leadership and governance in LMICs.