Abstract
Background
Postgraduate surgical training is limited in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, and doctors who pursue further training overseas may fail to return. One solution is to deliver education online, allowing trainees to complement their in-the-workplace learning.
Objectives
We evaluated the perceived effectiveness of an online MSc in Surgical Sciences programme for trainees continuing to train and work full-time in their Malawian clinical environment.
Methods
Twenty-four Malawian surgical trainees have enrolled on the programme since 2010. Students’ perspectives about the MSc were explored by questionnaires, and Malawian student performance was measured using a variety of metrics and compared to other students in their year. In addition, Training Program Supervisors in Malawi were surveyed on their opinions of the effectiveness of the programme.
Results
Feedback revealed that students valued the structured presentation of the basic sciences integrated into interactive virtual patients, access to e-journals, and the opportunity for discussion with international surgical colleagues. Academic performance of Malawian trainees was comparable to that of the cohort average in the first two-years of the programme.
Attitudes of both students and supervisors on the educational benefits of the programme were positive.
Conclusions
The MSc in Surgical Sciences provides a culture of studying and sharing knowledge with peers and mentors across the world, and has increased the academic support network for Malawian trainees from a few dedicated surgeons within the country to an international network. This innovative approach can serve as a model in other developing countries with critical shortages in healthcare workers.
Postgraduate surgical training is limited in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, and doctors who pursue further training overseas may fail to return. One solution is to deliver education online, allowing trainees to complement their in-the-workplace learning.
Objectives
We evaluated the perceived effectiveness of an online MSc in Surgical Sciences programme for trainees continuing to train and work full-time in their Malawian clinical environment.
Methods
Twenty-four Malawian surgical trainees have enrolled on the programme since 2010. Students’ perspectives about the MSc were explored by questionnaires, and Malawian student performance was measured using a variety of metrics and compared to other students in their year. In addition, Training Program Supervisors in Malawi were surveyed on their opinions of the effectiveness of the programme.
Results
Feedback revealed that students valued the structured presentation of the basic sciences integrated into interactive virtual patients, access to e-journals, and the opportunity for discussion with international surgical colleagues. Academic performance of Malawian trainees was comparable to that of the cohort average in the first two-years of the programme.
Attitudes of both students and supervisors on the educational benefits of the programme were positive.
Conclusions
The MSc in Surgical Sciences provides a culture of studying and sharing knowledge with peers and mentors across the world, and has increased the academic support network for Malawian trainees from a few dedicated surgeons within the country to an international network. This innovative approach can serve as a model in other developing countries with critical shortages in healthcare workers.
Original language | English |
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Journal | African Journal of Health Professions Education |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Oct 2018 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Transnational education
- online distance learning
- surgical education
- low- and middle-income countries