Family medicine training in Africa : views of clinical trainers and trainees
Date
2018-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
Background: This article reports on the findings of a workshop held at the joint 5th World
Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) Africa and 20th National Family Practitioners
Conference in Tshwane, South Africa, in 2017. Postgraduate training for family medicine in
Africa takes place in the clinical workspace at the bedside or next to the patient in the clinic,
district hospital or regional hospital. Direct supervisor observation, exchange of reflection and
feedback, and learning conversations between the supervisor and the registrar are central to
learning and assessment processes.
Objectives: The aim of the workshop was to understand how family medicine registrars
(postgraduate trainees in family medicine) in Africa learn in the workplace.
Methods: Thirty-five trainers and registrars from nine African countries, the United
Kingdom, United States and Sweden participated. South Africa was represented by the
universities of Cape Town, Limpopo, Pretoria, Sefako Makgatho, Stellenbosch, Walter Sisulu
and Witwatersrand.
Results: Six major themes were identified: (1) context is critical, (2) learning style of the
registrar and (teaching style) of the supervisor, (3) learning portfolio is utilised, (4) interactions
between registrar and supervisor, (5) giving and receiving feedback and (6) the competence of
the supervisor.
Conclusion: The training of family physicians across Africa shares many common themes.
However, there are also big differences among the various countries and even programmes
within countries. The way forward would include exploring the local contextual enablers that
influence the learning conversations between trainees and their supervisors. Family medicine
training institutions and organisations (such as WONCA Africa and the South African
Academy of Family Physicians) have a critical role to play in supporting trainees and trainers
towards developing local competencies which facilitate learning in the clinical workplace
dominated by service delivery pressures.
Description
CITATION: Jenkins, L. & von Pressentin, K. 2018. Family medicine training in Africa: Views of clinical trainers and trainees. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 10(1):a1638, doi:10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1638.
The original publication is available at https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm
The original publication is available at https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm
Keywords
Family medicine, Health education, Workplace-based assessment, Postgraduate training, Family physicians
Citation
Jenkins, L. & von Pressentin, K. 2018. Family medicine training in Africa: Views of clinical trainers and trainees. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 10(1):a1638, doi:10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1638.