Impact on core values of family medicine from a 2-year Master's programme in Gezira, Sudan: observational study.
BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2019;
20:145. [PMID:
31660866 PMCID:
PMC6816210 DOI:
10.1186/s12875-019-1037-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Training of family physicians should include not only clinical and procedural skills, but also core values as comprehensive care, continuity of care, leadership and patient-centeredness. The Gezira Family Medicine Project (GFMP) is a 2 years Master's programme in family medicine in Sudan. We assessed the impact of GFMP on the candidates' adherence to some core values of family medicine.
METHODS
This is a prospective study with before-after design based on repeated surveys. We used Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) to assess physicians' attitude towards patient-centeredness. Practice based data from individual patients' consultations and self-assessment methods were used to assess physicians' adherence to core values.
RESULTS
At the end of the programme the candidates (N = 110) were significantly more active in community health promotion (p < 0.001), more confident as a team leader (p = 0.008), and showed increased adherence to national guidelines for managing diabetes (p = 0.017) and hypertension (p = 0.003). The responding candidates had more knowledge about patients' medical history (p < 0.001), family history (p < 0.001) and family situation (p < 0.001). There were more planned follow up consultations (p < 0.001) and more referrals (p = 0.040). In contrast, results from PPOS showed slightly less orientation towards patient-centeredness (p = 0.007).
CONCLUSIONS
The GFMP Master's programme induced a positive change in adherence to several core values of family medicine. The candidates became less patient-centered.
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