School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2020 Jul 16;62(1):e1-e4. doi: 10.4102/safp.v62i1.5019.
A clinical associate (ClinA) is a mid-level health professional who may only practise under the supervision of a medical doctor. By extension, medical students need to be prepared for this responsibility. This study explored whether final-year medical students at one university were aware of this supervisory role, felt prepared and were knowledgeable about the ClinAs' scope of practice.
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. The population included all final-year medical students who had completed their District Health and Community Obstetrics rotations (March to November 2017). After an end-of-rotation session, 151 students were given questionnaires to complete. A list of 20 treatments or procedures was extracted from the ClinAs' gazetted scope of practice for a 'knowledge test'. Data were analysed with Stata and Microsoft Excel. Ethical permission was granted.
The response rate was 77.4% (n/N = 117/151). The majority of participants (76.1%, n = 86) had worked with a qualified or student ClinA before and had a generally positive impression (81.4%; n = 70). Almost half (47.8%; n = 56) thought that the ClinAs' scope of work was similar to registered nurses rather than a doctor's (38.2%; n = 44). Most were unaware that they would be required to supervise ClinAs once qualified (65.8%; n = 77). On average, participants identified 12 out of 20 treatments or procedures that a ClinA could perform.
Despite having worked with ClinAs, participants appeared largely unaware of their future legal obligation of supervision. Adequate clinical supervision is based on the knowledge of the scope of practice, which was variable. Formal training on the scope of the work of ClinAs is needed to prepare future doctors for their supervisory role. Medical schools have an obligation to adequately prepare their students in this regard as part of their transformative education with elements of interprofessional education.
临床助理（ClinA）是一种中级卫生专业人员，可能只能在医生的监督下执业。因此，医学生需要为此做好准备。本研究探讨了一所大学的应届医学生是否了解这种监督角色，是否感到有准备并了解 ClinA 的实践范围。
本研究采用描述性、横断面研究。研究对象包括所有完成地区卫生和社区产科轮转的应届医学生（2017 年 3 月至 11 月）。在轮转结束后，给 151 名学生发放问卷进行填写。从 ClinA 的法定执业范围中提取了 20 种治疗或程序清单，作为“知识测试”的内容。使用 Stata 和 Microsoft Excel 进行数据分析。已获得伦理批准。
应答率为 77.4%（n/N=117/151）。大多数参与者（76.1%，n=86）之前曾与合格或学生 ClinA 合作过，对其印象普遍较好（81.4%，n=70）。近一半（47.8%，n=56）认为 ClinA 的工作范围与注册护士相似，而不是医生（38.2%，n=44）。大多数人不知道一旦获得资格就需要监督 ClinA（65.8%，n=77）。参与者平均能正确识别出 ClinA 可以执行的 20 种治疗或程序中的 12 种。
尽管已经与 ClinA 合作过，但参与者似乎对他们未来的监督法律义务知之甚少。适当的临床监督基于对实践范围的了解，而对实践范围的了解是多种多样的。需要对 ClinA 的工作范围进行正式培训，以帮助未来的医生为其监督角色做好准备。医学院有责任在这方面充分准备学生，作为其转型教育的一部分，包括跨专业教育的元素。
