A mixed-methods evaluation of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland Uganda Fellowship Scheme
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Anaesthesia
Abstract
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland and the then Uganda Society of Anaesthesia established
the Uganda Fellowship Scheme in 2006, to provide scholarships to encourage doctors to train in anaesthesia in
Uganda. We conducted an evaluation of this programme using online questionnaires and face-to-face semi-structured
interviews with trainees who received scholarships, as well as with senior surgeons and anaesthetists. Focus group discussions
were held to assess changes in attitudes towards anaesthesia over the last 10 years. Interviews were recorded,
transcribed and analysed using the constant comparative method. A total of 54 Ugandan doctors have received anaesthesia
scholarships since 2006 (median funding per trainee (IQR [range]) £5520 (£5520–£6750 [£765–£9000]). There
has been a four-fold increase in the number of physician anaesthetists in Uganda during this time. All those who
received funding remain in the region. The speciality of anaesthesia is undergoing a dramatic transformation led by
this group of motivated young anaesthetists. There is increased access to intensive care, and this has allowed surgical
specialities to develop. There is greater understanding and visibility of anaesthesia, and the quality of education in
anaesthesia throughout the country has improved. The Uganda Fellowship Scheme provided a relatively small financial
incentive to encourage doctors to train as anaesthetists. Evaluation of the project shows a wide-ranging impact
that extends beyond the initial goal of simply improving human resource capacity. Financial incentives combined with
strong ‘north-south’ links between professional organisations can play an important role in tackling the shortage of
anaesthesia providers in a low-income country and in improving access to safe surgery and anaesthesia.
Description
Keywords
Low-income country, Quality improvement, Training, Workforce
Citation
Hewitt‐Smith, Adam, et al. "A mixed‐methods evaluation of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland Uganda Fellowship Scheme." Anaesthesia 73.3 (2018): 284-294. doi:10.1111/anae.14116