Equipping family physician trainees as teachers : a qualitative evaluation of a twelve-week module on teaching and learning
Date
2014-10
Authors
De Villiers, Marietjie R.
Cilliers, Francois. J.
Coetzee, Francois
Herman, Nicoline
Van Heusden, Martie
Von Pressentin, Klaus. B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
London : Biomed Central
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a dire need to expand the capacity of institutions in Africa to educate health care professionals.
Family physicians, as skilled all-rounders at district level, are potentially well placed to contribute to an extended
training platform in this context. To play this role, they need to both have an understanding of their specialist role that
incorporates teaching and be equipped for their role as trainers of current and future health workers and specialists. A
teaching and learning capacity-building module was introduced into a new master’s programme in family medicine at
Stellenbosch University, South Africa. We report on the influence of this module on graduates after the first six years.
Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken, interviewing thirteen graduates of the programme. Thematic analysis of
data was done by a team comprising tutors and graduates of the programme and an independent researcher. Ethical
clearance was obtained.
Results: The module influenced knowledge, skills and attitudes of respondents. Perceptions and evidence of changes
in behaviour, changes in practice beyond the individual respondent and benefits to students and patients were
apparent. Factors underlying these changes included the role of context and the role of personal factors. Contextual
factors included clinical workload and opportunity pressure i.e., the pressure and responsibility to undertake teaching.
Personal factors comprised self-confidence, modified attitudes and perceptions towards the roles of a family physician
and towards learning and teaching, in addition to the acquisition of knowledge and skills in teaching and learning.
The interaction between opportunity pressure and self-confidence influenced the application of what was learned
about teaching.
Conclusions: A module on teaching and learning influenced graduates’ perceptions of, and self-reported behaviour
relating to, teaching as practicing family physicians. This has important implications for educating family physicians in
and for Africa and indirectly on expanding capacity to educate health care professionals in Africa.
Description
The original publication is available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/14/228
De Villiers, M.R., et.al. 2014. Equipping family physician trainees as teachers: a qualitative evaluation of a twelve-week module on teaching and learning. BMC Medical Education, 14(228):1-10. doi:10.1186/1472-6920-14-228.
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
De Villiers, M.R., et.al. 2014. Equipping family physician trainees as teachers: a qualitative evaluation of a twelve-week module on teaching and learning. BMC Medical Education, 14(228):1-10. doi:10.1186/1472-6920-14-228.
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
Family physician roles, Capacity-building, Teaching-skills training, Physicians (General practice), Family medicine -- Study and teaching (Graduate) -- South Africa
Citation
De Villiers, M.R., et.al. 2014. Equipping family physician trainees as teachers: a qualitative evaluation of a twelve-week module on teaching and learning. BMC Medical Education, 14(228):2-10. doi:10.1186/1472-6920-14-228