Reciprocity? International Preceptors' Perceptions of Global Health Elective Learners at African Sites

Short-term global health electives (STGHEs) have become increasingly common, with evidence showing educational and clinical benefits for short-term learners (STLs). Despite increased recognition that STGHEs should be mutually beneficial for host sites and STLs, evidence demonstrating the impact on i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of global health 2019-03, Vol.85 (1), p.37
Main Authors: Keating, Elizabeth M, Haq, Heather, Rees, Chris A, Swamy, Padma, Turner, Teri L, Marton, Stephanie, Sanders, Jill, Mohapi, Edith Q, Kazembe, Peter N, Schutze, Gordon E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinics
Content analysis
Decision making
Focus groups
Global health
Industrialized nations
International
Malaria
Medical students
Medicine
Original Research
Patients
Pediatrics
Perceptions
Public health
Qualitative analysis
Qualitative research
Review boards
Teaching
Tropical diseases
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Summary:Short-term global health electives (STGHEs) have become increasingly common, with evidence showing educational and clinical benefits for short-term learners (STLs). Despite increased recognition that STGHEs should be mutually beneficial for host sites and STLs, evidence demonstrating the impact on international host preceptors is lacking. To understand international host preceptors' perceptions regarding benefits and burdens of hosting STLs. Focus group discussions with a convenience sample of 10 of 18 eligible preceptors were conducted at pediatric STGHE sites in Malawi and Lesotho. Qualitative content analysis was performed to identify themes using a deductive-inductive approach. Common themes regarding benefits to preceptors included increased knowledge and resources for learning from STLs, broadened differential diagnoses, and the satisfaction of teaching. Regarding burdens, preceptors perceived that supervising STLs decreases efficiency. Preceptors identified the burden of having to intervene in instances that could lead to patient harm. Some preceptors perceived that STLs under-valued preceptors' clinical decision-making in resource-limited contexts. Our findings emphasize the need for institutions to identify mutuality of benefits between STLs and host sites when developing STGHEs. Host preceptors identified robust pre-departure training for STLs, lengthened duration of STGHEs, and formal preceptor orientation as ways to enhance mutuality of benefits.
ISSN:2214-9996
2214-9996
DOI:10.5334/aogh.2342