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Medical internship training during the COVID-19 pandemic ­ A case of 'sacrificial pawns' or not?
Singaram, Veena S; Naidoo, Kimesh; Ramrathan, Labby.
  • Singaram, Veena S; Department of Clinical and Professional Practice, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Durban. ZA
  • Naidoo, Kimesh; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Durban. ZA
  • Ramrathan, Labby; Department of Teacher Development Studies, Faculty of Education, University of KwaZulu Natal. Durban. ZA
Article in English | AIM | ID: biblio-1353236
Responsible library: CG1.1
ABSTRACT

Background:

Newly qualified medical practitioners in South Africa (SA) are part of the frontline health care workers who face Africa's most severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The experiences of interns during the pandemic reflect SA's preparedness to respond in a crisis and inform strategies that could be adopted to balance training and service in resource-challenged contexts.

Aim:

To explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats posed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as reflected on by interns within the clinical training platforms in SA.

Setting:

Public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.

Methods:

An online questionnaire consisting of eight open-ended questions based on the SWOT framework related to personal and professional perspectives to clinical training during the COVID-19 pandemic was developed using SurveyMonkey. All data were collected remotely via social media platforms. Data were thematically analyzed.

Results:

Forty-six interns reflected on personal and systemic challenges as the major threats and weaknesses in intern training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Extrapolating on strengths and opportunities, there were three overarching learnings interns reflected on. These related to being a medical professional, communities of practice and the development and enhancement of clinical and non-clinical competencies. Existing challenges in the environment exacerbated the threats posed by COVID-19 and innovative strategies related to improving support, feedback, broadening the intern curriculum and online training.

Conclusion:

Although the clinical environment where interns learn and work is often stressful and overpowered by high service burdens, there are unique opportunities to enhance self-directed learning and graduate competencies, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject(s)


Full text: Available Index: AIM (Africa) Main subject: Education, Medical, Continuing / COVID-19 / Internship and Residency Limits: Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online) Year: 2022 Type: Article Institution/Affiliation country: Department of Clinical and Professional Practice, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal/ZA / Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal/ZA / Department of Teacher Development Studies, Faculty of Education, University of KwaZulu Natal/ZA

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Full text: Available Index: AIM (Africa) Main subject: Education, Medical, Continuing / COVID-19 / Internship and Residency Limits: Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online) Year: 2022 Type: Article Institution/Affiliation country: Department of Clinical and Professional Practice, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal/ZA / Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal/ZA / Department of Teacher Development Studies, Faculty of Education, University of KwaZulu Natal/ZA