Using plant clinic registers to assess the quality of diagnoses and advice given to farmers: a case study from Uganda

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Standard

Using plant clinic registers to assess the quality of diagnoses and advice given to farmers : a case study from Uganda. / Danielsen, Solveig; Boa, Eric; Mafabi, Moses; Mutebi, Emmanuel; Reeder, Robert; Kabeere, Flavia; Karyeija, Robert.

In: Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2012, p. 183-201.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Danielsen, S, Boa, E, Mafabi, M, Mutebi, E, Reeder, R, Kabeere, F & Karyeija, R 2012, 'Using plant clinic registers to assess the quality of diagnoses and advice given to farmers: a case study from Uganda', Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 183-201. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2012.741528

APA

Danielsen, S., Boa, E., Mafabi, M., Mutebi, E., Reeder, R., Kabeere, F., & Karyeija, R. (2012). Using plant clinic registers to assess the quality of diagnoses and advice given to farmers: a case study from Uganda. Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 19(2), 183-201. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2012.741528

Vancouver

Danielsen S, Boa E, Mafabi M, Mutebi E, Reeder R, Kabeere F et al. Using plant clinic registers to assess the quality of diagnoses and advice given to farmers: a case study from Uganda. Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension. 2012;19(2):183-201. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2012.741528

Author

Danielsen, Solveig ; Boa, Eric ; Mafabi, Moses ; Mutebi, Emmanuel ; Reeder, Robert ; Kabeere, Flavia ; Karyeija, Robert. / Using plant clinic registers to assess the quality of diagnoses and advice given to farmers : a case study from Uganda. In: Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension. 2012 ; Vol. 19, No. 2. pp. 183-201.

Bibtex

@article{15fa71b6a099405ca8ca81bb21e0c84c,
title = "Using plant clinic registers to assess the quality of diagnoses and advice given to farmers: a case study from Uganda",
abstract = "Purpose: This study developed a framework for quality assessment of diagnoses and advice given at plant clinics.Design/methodology/approach: Clinic registers from five plant clinics in Uganda (2006-2010) were used to develop quality assessment protocols for diagnoses and advice given by plant doctors. Assessment of quality of diagnoses was based on five validation criteria applied on the ten mostcommon crops. Quality of advice was assessed for the four major problems considering efficacy and feasibility.Findings: The quality of diagnoses varied between crops, from 68% completely validated in maize to 1% in tomato. Complete and partially validated diagnoses were 44% of all queries. The remaining 56% were rejected. Several basic weaknesses were found in data recording and symptom recognition. A greater consistency and precision in naming diseases would increase the number ofcompletely validated diagnoses. The majority of recommendations (82%) were assessed {\textquoteleft}partially effective{\textquoteright}. {\textquoteleft}Best practice{\textquoteright} was recommended for 10% and ineffective advice was given in 8% of the cases with considerable variation between diseases.Practical implications: Plant doctors need more training in symptom recognition, pest management and record keeping as well as better technical backstopping to solve unknown problems. Common standards and procedures for clinic data collection and analysis should be established, and roles and responsibilities clearly defined.Originality/value: This is the first time plant clinic registers have been used to systematically assess quality of plant clinic services. Apart from being a valuable tool for quality assessment of extension, the plant clinic registers constitute a novel source of regular information about pests, diseases and farmer demand that can help improve decision-making of extension service providers, researchers, plant health authorities as well as information and technology providers.",
keywords = "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Agricultral extension, Plant clinic, diagnostics, Plant doctors, Quality assessment, Clinic register",
author = "Solveig Danielsen and Eric Boa and Moses Mafabi and Emmanuel Mutebi and Robert Reeder and Flavia Kabeere and Robert Karyeija",
year = "2012",
doi = "10.1080/1389224X.2012.741528",
language = "English",
volume = "19",
pages = "183--201",
journal = "Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension",
issn = "1389-224X",
publisher = "Routledge",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Using plant clinic registers to assess the quality of diagnoses and advice given to farmers

T2 - a case study from Uganda

AU - Danielsen, Solveig

AU - Boa, Eric

AU - Mafabi, Moses

AU - Mutebi, Emmanuel

AU - Reeder, Robert

AU - Kabeere, Flavia

AU - Karyeija, Robert

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Purpose: This study developed a framework for quality assessment of diagnoses and advice given at plant clinics.Design/methodology/approach: Clinic registers from five plant clinics in Uganda (2006-2010) were used to develop quality assessment protocols for diagnoses and advice given by plant doctors. Assessment of quality of diagnoses was based on five validation criteria applied on the ten mostcommon crops. Quality of advice was assessed for the four major problems considering efficacy and feasibility.Findings: The quality of diagnoses varied between crops, from 68% completely validated in maize to 1% in tomato. Complete and partially validated diagnoses were 44% of all queries. The remaining 56% were rejected. Several basic weaknesses were found in data recording and symptom recognition. A greater consistency and precision in naming diseases would increase the number ofcompletely validated diagnoses. The majority of recommendations (82%) were assessed ‘partially effective’. ‘Best practice’ was recommended for 10% and ineffective advice was given in 8% of the cases with considerable variation between diseases.Practical implications: Plant doctors need more training in symptom recognition, pest management and record keeping as well as better technical backstopping to solve unknown problems. Common standards and procedures for clinic data collection and analysis should be established, and roles and responsibilities clearly defined.Originality/value: This is the first time plant clinic registers have been used to systematically assess quality of plant clinic services. Apart from being a valuable tool for quality assessment of extension, the plant clinic registers constitute a novel source of regular information about pests, diseases and farmer demand that can help improve decision-making of extension service providers, researchers, plant health authorities as well as information and technology providers.

AB - Purpose: This study developed a framework for quality assessment of diagnoses and advice given at plant clinics.Design/methodology/approach: Clinic registers from five plant clinics in Uganda (2006-2010) were used to develop quality assessment protocols for diagnoses and advice given by plant doctors. Assessment of quality of diagnoses was based on five validation criteria applied on the ten mostcommon crops. Quality of advice was assessed for the four major problems considering efficacy and feasibility.Findings: The quality of diagnoses varied between crops, from 68% completely validated in maize to 1% in tomato. Complete and partially validated diagnoses were 44% of all queries. The remaining 56% were rejected. Several basic weaknesses were found in data recording and symptom recognition. A greater consistency and precision in naming diseases would increase the number ofcompletely validated diagnoses. The majority of recommendations (82%) were assessed ‘partially effective’. ‘Best practice’ was recommended for 10% and ineffective advice was given in 8% of the cases with considerable variation between diseases.Practical implications: Plant doctors need more training in symptom recognition, pest management and record keeping as well as better technical backstopping to solve unknown problems. Common standards and procedures for clinic data collection and analysis should be established, and roles and responsibilities clearly defined.Originality/value: This is the first time plant clinic registers have been used to systematically assess quality of plant clinic services. Apart from being a valuable tool for quality assessment of extension, the plant clinic registers constitute a novel source of regular information about pests, diseases and farmer demand that can help improve decision-making of extension service providers, researchers, plant health authorities as well as information and technology providers.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - Agricultral extension

KW - Plant clinic

KW - diagnostics

KW - Plant doctors

KW - Quality assessment

KW - Clinic register

U2 - 10.1080/1389224X.2012.741528

DO - 10.1080/1389224X.2012.741528

M3 - Journal article

VL - 19

SP - 183

EP - 201

JO - Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

JF - Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

SN - 1389-224X

IS - 2

ER -

ID: 43253430