Undergraduate students’ contributions to health service delivery through community-based education: A qualitative study by the MESAU Consortium in Uganda

BMC Medical Education

Research Article

Lynn M. Atuyambe¹  Simon P. S. Kibira¹  Gad Ruzaaza²  Wilfred Arubaku²  Samantha Mary²  David H. Peters²  Henry Oboke³  Peter Akera³  Ruth Nabaggala⁴  Florence Ayebare⁴  Nelson K. Sewankambo⁴  Rhona K. Baingana⁵  Kintu Muggaga⁶  Christine Acio⁶  Scovia Mbalinda⁷  Anne Katahoire⁷  James K. Tumwine⁷  Elialilia Okello⁷  David K. Mafigiri⁸ 

[1] Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, New Mulago Hospital Complex-School of Public Health Building Suite nr 307, Kampala, Uganda;Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA;Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Kampala, Uganda;Office of the Principal, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda;School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda;School of Health Sciences, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda;Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda;School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda;School of Social Sciences, Makerere University College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kampala, Uganda;

关键词: Undergraduate students;    Contribution;    Health service;    Community-based education;    Qualitative;    MESAU;    Uganda;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12909-016-0626-0

 received in 2015-04-07, accepted in 2016-04-05,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIt has been realised that there is need to have medical training closer to communities where the majority of the population lives in order to orient the trainees’ attitudes towards future practice in such communities. Although community based education (CBE) has increasingly been integrated into health professions curricula since the 1990s, the contribution students make to service delivery during CBE remains largely undocumented. In this study, we examined undergraduate health professions students’ contribution to primary health care during their CBE placements.MethodsThis was a qualitative study involving the Medical Education for Equitable Services to All Ugandans consortium (MESAU). Overall, we conducted 36 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): one each with youth, men and women at each of 12 CBE sites. Additionally, we interviewed 64 community key-informants. All data were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using qualitative data analysis software Atlas.ti Ver7.ResultsTwo themes emerged: students’ contribution at health facility level and students’ contribution at community level. Under theme one, we established that students were not only learning; they also contributed to delivery of health services at the facilities. Their contribution was highly appreciated especially by community members. Students were described as caring and compassionate, available on time and anytime, and as participating in patient care. They were willing to share their knowledge and skills, and stimulated discussion on work ethics. Under the second theme, students were reported to have participated in water, sanitation, and hygiene education in the community. Students contributed to maintenance of safe water sources, educated communities on drinking safe water and on good sanitation practices (hand washing and proper waste disposal). Hygiene promotion was done at household level (food hygiene, hand washing, cleanliness) and to the public. Public health education was extended to institutions. School pupils were sensitised on various health-related issues including sexuality and sexual health.ConclusionHealth professions students at the MESAU institutions contribute meaningfully to primary health care delivery. We recommend CBE to all health training programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Atuyambe et al. 2016