Reardon Candice, George Gavin, Enigbokan Oluwatobi
Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division (HEARD), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag x54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa.
BMC Med Educ. 2015 Oct 14;15:174. doi: 10.1186/s12909-015-0447-6.
The value of international health experience for doctors from developed nations is well recognised. Provisions have been made for medical staff in the United Kingdom to embark on work experiences abroad during their careers in the National Health Service. The London Deanery and Africa Health Placements provide an Out of Programme Experience for British General Practice trainee doctors wanting to work for a year in rural hospitals in South Africa.
A qualitative study was conducted among fifteen British General Practice trainees who participated in the programme. The research aim was to understand the perceived benefit and value of their experience and their opinions about the structure of the programme. The data was analysed using thematic analysis.
Their experience provided an accelerated year of learning and development that contributed to their professional and personal development. In addition to their general development, their improved ability to work in resource limited settings, enhancement of soft skills, a greater appreciation for the National Health Service and a better understanding of working within foreign health care systems were important gains. The timing of the experience, the security of re-employment on their return, assistance with administrative requirements of destination countries and the opportunity to gain varied, hands-on experience were highly valued components of the Out of Programme Experience.
The value and benefits derived from the doctors' experience in South Africa are discussed in relation to another evaluation of the Out of Programme Experience, as well as issues of transferability of skills and competencies and future impacts on career decisions.
This study provides evidence to suggest programmes such as the OOPE have the potential to create substantial benefits for trainee doctors, both in terms of their medical skills and competencies and through the development of softer skills. This programme, through the supply of scarce skills, further benefits the host country and specifically the health facilities and communities served by these trainee doctors.
发达国家医生的国际健康经历的价值已得到充分认可。英国已为国民医疗服务体系中的医务人员提供了在其职业生涯中到国外工作的机会。伦敦教区和非洲健康安置机构为希望在南非农村医院工作一年的英国全科实习医生提供了计划外体验项目。
对15名参与该项目的英国全科实习医生进行了定性研究。研究目的是了解他们对自身经历的感知益处和价值，以及他们对项目结构的看法。采用主题分析法对数据进行分析。
他们的经历提供了加速的学习和发展年份，有助于他们的专业和个人成长。除了总体发展外，他们在资源有限环境中工作能力的提高、软技能的增强、对国民医疗服务体系的更多认识以及对外国医疗保健系统工作的更好理解都是重要收获。体验的时机、回国后再就业的保障、目的地国家行政要求方面的协助以及获得多样化实践经验的机会是计划外体验项目中非常受重视的组成部分。
结合对计划外体验项目的另一项评估，讨论了医生在南非的经历所带来的价值和益处，以及技能和能力的可转移性问题和对职业决策的未来影响。
本研究提供的证据表明，诸如计划外体验项目之类的项目有可能为实习医生带来巨大益处，无论是在医疗技能和能力方面，还是通过软技能的发展。该项目通过提供稀缺技能，进一步使东道国受益，特别是使这些实习医生所服务的卫生设施和社区受益。
