Conference Report

Family medicine training in Africa: Views of clinical trainers and trainees

Louis S. Jenkins, Klaus von Pressentin
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine | Vol 10, No 1 | a1638 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1638 | © 2018 Louis S. Jenkins, Klaus Von Pressentin | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 28 September 2017 | Published: 12 April 2018

About the author(s)

Louis S. Jenkins, Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; George Regional Hospital, Eden, Western Cape Department of Health, South Africa
Klaus von Pressentin, Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Mossel Bay Hospital, Eden, Western Cape Department of Health, South Africa

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.

Keywords

Family medicine; health education; postgraduate; workplace-based assessment; learning; portfolio

Metrics

Total abstract views: 2811
Total article views: 12212

 

Crossref Citations

1. Perceptions of postgraduate family medicine supervision at decentralised training sites, South Africa
Neetha J. Erumeda, Louis S. Jenkins, Ann Z. George
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine  vol: 14  issue: 1  year: 2022  
doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3111