Designing a curriculum for postgraduate training in family medicine in India
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ABSTRACT: Context:
Family physicians, trained in handling primary care problems through the principles of family medicine (FM), were needed in India. The training required a comprehensive and detailed curriculum that could be implemented across the country. Aim:
The aim was to create a document that includes rationale, goals, subject-based objectives, educational methods and assessment methods that align to the objectives. Design and Methods:
Kern's Six-Step-method was used to create a curriculum document. The six steps are (a) problem identification and general needs assessment, (b) targeted needs assessment, determining and prioritizing content, (c) writing goals and objectives, (d) selecting teaching/education strategies,(e) implementation of the curriculum and (f) evaluation and application of the lessons learnt. Results and Conclusions:
Based on the given steps, a team of faculty identified needs, requirements and barriers, wrote goals and objectives along with aligned educational and assessment methods. The curriculum document was created for FM resident training. The first set of residents have been trained based on this curriculum and an evaluation is being planned.
SUBMITTER: Rajkumar Honest P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8565140 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:IntroductionFor the effective and safe management of complex care needs for patients in community settings, high quality family medicine (FM) training programmes are needed. In less primary care oriented countries, training standards statements for FM postgraduate training are less commonly found. The aim of this study was to review international training standards statements in FM postgraduate training and to catalogue these statements to be used as a best practice standard guide for FM training programs in Germany.Materials and methodsA structured three-tiered search was performed: a systematic literature search in MEDLINE®; a search of international indicator databases; and a search in grey literature, consisting of a survey of international experts and a search in "Google (Scholar)". From all identified documents, training standards statements were extracted, translated and summarized into categories referring to the same quality aspect.ResultsThe search strategy revealed 25 relevant documents (MEDLINE® n = 15, databases n = 2, experts n = 7, "Google" n = 1), containing 337 training standards statements. These were summarized into 80 statements. They covered structure quality (n = 35); process quality (n = 43); and two training standards statements referred to outcome quality (n = 2).ConclusionA broad range of internationally sourced training standards statements for FM postgraduate training could be identified from countries with well-established primary care systems. Only few statements internationally referred to outcome quality, expressing the difficulty in assessing outcome. The resulting inventory of training standards statements for FM postgraduate training can serve as a resource for institutions seeking to formalise and systematise FM training at regional or national levels.
| S-EPMC4961452 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Backgroundthe European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS-GMS) recommendations for training in Geriatric Medicine were published in 1993. The practice of Geriatric Medicine has developed considerably since then and it has therefore become necessary to update these recommendations.Methodsunder the auspices of the UEMS-GMS, the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) and the European Academy of Medicine of Ageing (EAMA), a group of experts, representing all member states of the respective bodies developed a new framework for education and training of specialists in Geriatric Medicine using a modified Delphi technique. Thirty-two expert panel members from 30 different countries participated in the process comprising three Delphi rounds for consensus. The process was led by five facilitators.Resultsthe final recommendations include four different domains: 'General Considerations' on the structure and aim of the syllabus as well as quality indicators for training (6 sub-items), 'Knowledge in patient care' (36 sub-items), 'Additional Skills and Attitude required for a Geriatrician' (9 sub-items) and a domain on 'Assessment of postgraduate education: which items are important for the transnational comparison process' (1 item).Conclusionthe current publication describes the development of the new recommendations endorsed by UEMS-GMS, EuGMS and EAMA as minimum training requirements to become a geriatrician at specialist level in EU member states.
| S-EPMC6424375 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundIn South Africa it is compulsory to submit a satisfactory portfolio of learning to gain entrance to the national exit examination of the College of Family Physicians and to qualify as a family physician. A paper-based portfolio has been implemented thus far and the need for an electronic portfolio (e-portfolio) was identified. The aim of the study was to describe and evaluate the implementation of an e-portfolio for the training of family medicine registrars in the Western Cape province of South Africa.MethodsMixed methods were used. A quasi-experimental study evaluated paper- and e-portfolios from the same 28 registrars in 2015 compared to 2016. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 registrars or supervisors to explore their experiences of using the e-portfolio. Quantitative data was analysed in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences and qualitative data in Atlas.ti.ResultsMost respondents found the e-portfolio easier to use and more accessible. It made progress easier to monitor and provided sufficient evidence of learning. Feedback was made easier and more explicit. There were concerns regarding face-to-face feedback being negatively affected. It was suggested to have a feedback template to further improve feedback. Several aspects were significantly better in the e-portfolio such as feedback on the registrar's general behaviour, alignment with learning outcomes, less feedback based on hearsay and acknowledgement of the feedback by the registrar. Although not statistically significant, there was an increase in the usage of the e-portfolio, compared to the paper portfolio.ConclusionIn general, the e-portfolio is an improvement on the paper-based portfolio. It is easier to access, more user-friendly and less cumbersome. It makes feedback and monitoring of progress and development of registrars easier and more visible and provides sufficient evidence of learning. Its implementation throughout South Africa is recommended.
| S-EPMC6615201 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWithin the 52 health districts in South Africa, the family physician is seen as the clinical leader within a multi-professional district health team. Family physicians must be competent to meet 90% of the health needs of the communities in their districts. The eight university departments of Family Medicine have identified five unit standards, broken down into 85 training outcomes, for postgraduate training. The family medicine registrar must prove at the end of training that all the required training outcomes have been attained. District health managers must be assured that the family physician is competent to deliver the expected service. The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) require a portfolio to be submitted as part of the uniform assessment of all registrars applying to write the national fellowship examinations. This study aimed to achieve a consensus on the contents and principles of the first national portfolio for use in family medicine training in South Africa.MethodsA workshop held at the WONCA Africa Regional Conference in 2009 explored the purpose and broad contents of the portfolio. The 85 training outcomes, ideas from the WONCA workshop, the literature, and existing portfolios in the various universities were used to develop a questionnaire that was tested for content validity by a panel of 31 experts in family medicine in South Africa, via the Delphi technique in four rounds. Eighty five content items (national learning outcomes) and 27 principles were tested. Consensus was defined as 70% agreement. For those items that the panel thought should be included, they were also asked how to provide evidence for the specific item in the portfolio, and how to assess that evidence.ResultsConsensus was reached on 61 of the 85 national learning outcomes. The panel recommended that 50 be assessed by the portfolio and 11 should not be. No consensus could be reached on the remaining 24 outcomes and these were also omitted from the portfolio. The panel recommended that various types of evidence be included in the portfolio. The panel supported 26 of the 27 principles, but could not reach consensus on whether the portfolio should reflect on the relationship between the supervisor and registrar.ConclusionA portfolio was developed and distributed to the eight departments of Family Medicine in South Africa, and the CMSA, to be further tested in implementation.
| S-EPMC3317832 | biostudies-literature
Project description:To design and implement an emergency medicine (EM) postgraduate training curriculum to support the establishment of the first EM residency program at Addis Ababa University (AAU).In response to the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health mandate to develop EM services in Ethiopia, University of Toronto EM faculty were invited to develop and deliver EM content and expertise for the first EM postgraduate residency training program at AAU. The Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration-EM (TAAAC-EM) used five steps of a six-step approach to guide curriculum development and implementation: 1. Problem identification and general needs assessment, 2. Targeted needs assessment using indirect methods (interviews and site visits of the learners and learning environment), 3. Defining goals and objectives, 4. Choosing educational strategies and curriculum map development and 5.The needs assessment identified a learning environment with appropriate, though limited, resources for the implementation of an EM residency program. A lack of educational activities geared towards EM practice was identified, specifically of active learning techniques (ALTs) such as bedside teaching, simulation and procedural teaching. A curriculum map was devised to supplement the AAU EM residency program curriculum. The TAAAC-EM curriculum was divided into three distinct streams: clinical, clinical epidemiology and EM administration. The clinical sessions were divided into didactic and ALTs including practical/procedural and simulation sessions, and bedside teaching was given a strong emphasis. Implementation is currently in its seventh year, with continuous monitoring and revisions of the curriculum to meet evolving needs.We have outlined the design and implementation of the TAAAC-EM curriculum; an evaluation of this curriculum is currently underway. As EM spreads as a specialty throughout Africa and other resource-limited regions, this model can serve as a working guide for similar bi-institutional educational partnerships seeking to develop novel EM postgraduate training programs.
| S-EPMC5889606 | biostudies-literature
Project description:A growing number of formal postgraduate training programs have been established to provide emergency medicine physician assistants (EMPA) with the unique skills and knowledge to work in the emergency department (ED). The objective of this study was to provide an overview of the current state of EMPA postgraduate training and to describe program characteristics and curriculum components.We conducted a cross-sectional study of EMPA postgraduate training programs using data from websites and contacting individual programs to provide program characteristics and curriculum components. Variables collected included length of program, curriculum (e.g., clinical rotations, didactic experience, and research opportunities), size of program/number of trainees, affiliation with emergency medicine (EM) residency, geographic location, and salary.We identified 29 EMPA postgraduate training programs in 17 states, with at least one additional program in development. The mean length of EMPA training programs is 15 months (range 12-24 months). The most common non-ED/elective rotations are orthopedics, ultrasound, anesthesiology, and trauma. The mean number of trainees per class is 3.46 (median 3, range 1-16 trainees); 27 of 29 (93%) programs were in institutions that also had an EM residency program. The mean annual salary is $58,566 (range $43,000-90,000).EMPA postgraduate training programs have common characteristics and curriculum components despite a lack of a specialty-specific accrediting organization or certifying examination. The overall growth and current number of these programs merits further research focusing on whether standardized curricula, formal recognition, and accreditation should be developed.
| S-EPMC6123089 | biostudies-other
Project description:IntroductionMany medical schools provide opportunities for students to learn about health disparities, social determinants of health, and the role physicians play in promoting health equity. The family medicine clerkship exposes medical students to these topics to help them understand the health status of patients. A multielement curriculum was incorporated into the core family medicine clerkship to provide the full medical school class exposure to community medicine and was updated in 2014 to increase the emphasis on clinical correlation of community medicine concepts.MethodsThis curriculum consists of a community medicine orientation, a community-based experience, a didactic session, and a reflection paper. The orientation serves as an introduction to the course, and the community-based experience provides hands-on understanding of community medicine. The didactic session encompasses a half-day session of preparatory work, team-based exercises, an interactive lecture, individual reflection, and a seminar-style discussion. Students share their experience with the curriculum in their reflection papers.ResultsSince 2014, 286 have students completed the updated curriculum, and reactions have been highly favorable. Most students have agreed or strongly agreed that the sessions met the learning objectives. Student preparation was demonstrated by individual quiz scores (average: 87%, n = 93). Learning and behavior change were evaluated using structured rubric scoring of reflection papers (average: 94%, n = 67).DiscussionOverall, this community medicine curriculum includes a variety of learning experiences for medical students to gain knowledge, attitudes, and skills that are applicable to care in all specialties and may be easily adapted to use in other settings.
| S-EPMC6464429 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND: Effective communication during patient care transitions is essential for high-quality patient care. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was (1) to objectively assess patient handoff skills of internal medicine residents, and (2) to evaluate correlations between clinical experience and patient handoff skill self-assessment with directly observed skill. METHODS: We studied simulated patient handoffs in postgraduate year (PGY)-1 and PGY-2 residents between July 2011 and September 2011, using a standardized scenario in an observed structured handoff exam (OSHE). Our design was a posttest-only, with nonequivalent groups. Assessment used a previously published checklist for evaluating handoff skills. Residents were asked about clinical experience with patient handoffs and about their self-confidence in performing a patient handoff independently. We evaluated between-group differences on OSHE checklist performance, patient handoff experience, and self-confidence and used multiple regression analyses to assess the association between performance, experience, and confidence. RESULTS: Forty-seven PGY-1 residents and 38 PGY-2 residents completed the study. Interrater reliability was substantial (intraclass correlation = 0.68). There was no significant difference in OSHE performance by PGY-1 residents (mean = 79%, SD = 4.6) and PGY-2 residents (mean = 82%; SD = 7.6; P = .07). The PGY-2 residents were significantly more experienced (P < .001) and confident (P < .001) than PGY-1 residents were, yet clinical experience and self-confidence did not significantly predict OSHE performance. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical experience and self-assessment do not predict skills in simulated patient handoffs, and residents with substantial clinical experience still benefit from further skills development.
| S-EPMC3771167 | biostudies-other
Project description:BackgroundEmergency Medicine (EM) is a rapidly developing specialty in Africa with several emergency medicine residency-training programs (EMRPs) established across the continent over the past decade. Despite rapid proliferation of the specialty, little is known about emergency care curriculum structure and content. We provide an overview of Africa's EMRPs.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted of EMRPs in Africa between January 2017 and December 2017. Data were prospectively collected using a structured survey that was developed and administered through online data capture software, REDCap (Version 7.2.2, Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA). Survey questions focused on curriculum structure and design, including clinical rotations, didactics, research, and evaluation. Data are summarized with descriptive statistics.ResultsThe survey was sent to the leadership of 15 EMRPs in 12 different African countries and 11 (73%) responded. Five (46%) of the responding programs were started by local non-EM trained faculty, two (18%) were started by international partners, and the remainder by a combination of local non-EM faculty and international partners. Overall, Seven (64%) of the countries offer a 4-year EMRP. In General, 40% of curriculums are influenced the contents developed by African Federation for Emergency Medicine. All programs offer resident led-didactics, with a median of 12?h (Interquartile range 9-6?h) per month. All EMRPs have a mandatory research requirement. All EMRPs offer clinical rotations in the ED, Paediatrics, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, while only 2 programs offer rotations in radiology and neonatal intensive care units. Only 46% of EMRPs have in-ED clinical supervision by specialist.ConclusionThe EMRPs in Africa were started by non-EM trained local faculty alone or collaboration with international partners. The curriculum offers most exposure to ED, and less exposure in radiology and neonatal intensive care. Residents are highly involved in leading didactics and less than half of the programs have in-ED specialist supervision of patient care.
| S-EPMC6670225 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThis article, developed for the Betty Ford Institute Consensus Conference on Graduate Medical Education (December, 2008), presents a model curriculum for Family Medicine residency training in substance abuse.MethodsThe authors reviewed reports of past Family Medicine curriculum development efforts, previously-identified barriers to education in high risk substance use, approaches to overcoming these barriers, and current training guidelines of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and their Family Medicine Residency Review Committee. A proposed eight-module curriculum was developed, based on substance abuse competencies defined by Project MAINSTREAM and linked to core competencies defined by the ACGME. The curriculum provides basic training in high risk substance use to all residents, while also addressing current training challenges presented by U.S. work hour regulations, increasing international diversity of Family Medicine resident trainees, and emerging new primary care practice models.ResultsThis paper offers a core curriculum, focused on screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment, which can be adapted by residency programs to meet their individual needs. The curriculum encourages direct observation of residents to ensure that core skills are learned and trains residents with several "new skills" that will expand the basket of substance abuse services they will be equipped to provide as they enter practice.ConclusionsBroad-based implementation of a comprehensive Family Medicine residency curriculum should increase the ability of family physicians to provide basic substance abuse services in a primary care context. Such efforts should be coupled with faculty development initiatives which ensure that sufficient trained faculty are available to teach these concepts and with efforts by major Family Medicine organizations to implement and enforce residency requirements for substance abuse training.
| S-EPMC2885404 | biostudies-literature