Training of workplace-based clinical trainers in family medicine, South Africa : before-and-after evaluation
Date
2018-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
Background: The training of family physicians is a relatively new phenomenon in the district
health services of South Africa. There are concerns about the quality of clinical training and the
low pass rate in the national examination.
Aim: To assess the effect of a five-day course to train clinical trainers in family medicine on the
participants’ subsequent capability in the workplace.
Setting: Family physician clinical trainers from training programmes mainly in South Africa,
but also from Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi and Botswana.
Methods: A before-and-after study using self-reported change at 6 weeks (N = 18) and a
360-degree evaluation of clinical trainers by trainees after 3 months (N = 33). Quantitative data
were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, and qualitative data were
analysed thematically.
Results: Significant change (p < 0.05) was found at 6 weeks in terms of ensuring safe and
effective patient care through training, establishing and maintaining an environment for
learning, teaching and facilitating learning, enhancing learning through assessment, and
supporting and monitoring educational progress. Family physicians reported that they were
better at giving feedback, more aware of different learning styles, more facilitative and less
authoritarian in their educational approach, more reflective and critical of their educational
capabilities and more aware of principles in assessment. Despite this, the trainees did not
report any noticeable change in the trainers’ capability after 3 months.
Conclusion: The results support a short-term improvement in the capability of clinical trainers
following the course. This change needs to be supported by ongoing formative assessment and
supportive visits, which are reported on elsewhere.
Description
CTATION: Mash, R., Blitz, J., Edwards, J., & Mowle, S. 2018. Training of workplace-based clinical trainers in family medicine, South Africa: Before-and-after evaluation. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 10(1), a1589, doi:10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1589.
The original publication is available at https://phcfm.org
The original publication is available at https://phcfm.org
Keywords
Training physicians, Clinical training, Family medicine, Family physicians
Citation
Mash, R., Blitz, J., Edwards, J., & Mowle, S. 2018. Training of workplace-based clinical trainers in family medicine, South Africa: Before-and-after evaluation. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 10(1), a1589, doi:10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1589.