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Perceptions of graduates from Africa's first emergency medicine training program at the University of Cape Town/Stellenbosch University

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2015

Leana S. Wen ,
Heike I. Geduld ,
J. Tobias Nagurney  and
Lee A. Wallis
Leana S. Wen*
Affiliation:
Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospitals/ Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Heike I. Geduld
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, and the Division of Emergency Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
J. Tobias Nagurney
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Lee A. Wallis
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, and the Division of Emergency Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
*
Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency, 75 Francis St., Neville House 236-A, Boston, MA 02115; [email protected]

Abstract

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Objective:

Africa's first postgraduate training program in emergency medicine (EM) was established at the University of Cape Town/Stellenbosch University (UCT/SUN) in 2004. This study of the UCT/SUN EM program investigated the backgrounds, perceptions, and experiences of its graduates.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study population was the 30 graduates from the first four classes in the UCT/SUN EM program (2007–2010). We employed a scripted interview with a combination of closed and open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using the thematic method of qualitative analysis.

Results:

Twenty-seven (90%) graduates were interviewed. Initial career goals were primarily (78%) to practice EM in a nonacademic clinical capacity. At the time of the interview, 52% held academic positions, 15% had nonacademic clinical positions, and 33% had temporary positions and were looking for other posts. The three most commonly cited strengths of their program were diversity of clinical rotations (85%), autonomy and procedural experience (63%), and importance of being pioneers within Africa (52%). The three most commonly cited weaknesses were lack of bedside teaching in the ED (96%), lack of career options after graduation (74%), and lack of preparation for academic careers (70%).

Conclusions:

The lessons identified from structured interviews with graduates from Africa’s first EM training include the importance of strong clinical training, difficulty of ensuring bedside teaching in a new program, the necessity of ensuring postgraduation positions, and the need for academic training. These findings may be useful for other developing countries looking to start EM training programs.

Keywords

internatonal emergency medicinemedical educationresidencySouth Africa
Type
Education • Enseignement
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , March 2012 , pp. 97 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2012

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