All staff members who train or work closely with THPs should have some basic attitudes and skills to work effectively. These attitudes and skills include having respect for THPs as dedicated health professionals; being sensitive to the different beliefs that healers have about traditional medicine, health, and healing; having appropriate skills to teach THPs the appropriate PHC knowledge and skills required in the designated programme; and being able to communicate in a manner that facilitates good collaboration between THPs and modern health professionals.

It is very important that health workers who train or collaborate closely with THPs be sensitive to and understand the cultural beliefs and practices they have about traditional medicine and healing. Many traditional beliefs about health and illness can be integrated with conventional concepts when teaching about the prevention and treatment of illness and the promotion of health.

Also, many THPs, being from an older generation, have had little formal education and may have difficulty reading and writing. This requires that training staff know how to use "hands-on" learning experiences and to use a variety of visual aids, demonstrations, and other practical learning methods.