A situation analysis of inter‑professional education and practice for ethics and professionalism training at Makerere University College of Health Sciences
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC research notes
Abstract
Students at Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) are introduced to ethics and professionalism
using the inter-professional education (IPE) model. Ethics and professionalism should be running themes
throughout succeeding years of study during which students are expected to develop qualities and skills for future
inter-professional practice (IPP). We performed a situation analysis of IPE and IPP among students and teaching health
professionals at MakCHS to guide development of a relevant training curriculum of ethics and professionalism.
Methods: A cross sectional study with quantitative and qualitative methods which included questionnaires, focus
group discussions and key informant interviews.
Results: We interviewed 236 undergraduate students (148, 63 % male) and 32 teaching health professionals (25,
78 % male). Two hundred fifteen (91 %) students indicated they had joint learning activities with students of other
professions and 166 (70 %) stated there was benefit in having an IPE model training curriculum. Most students (140,
59 %) strongly agreed that learning with other students will make them more effective members of the health team.
Whereas the respondents reported inter professionalism as being well articulated in their course curricula, more than
half said IPE is only implemented in the pre-clinical years of study. They noted that IPE and IPP concepts were not well
programmed, health professionals engaged in teaching had poor attitudes towards IPE and IPP, there were limited
numbers of skilled health care workers to implement IPP and there was poor communication between students and
teaching health professionals. Majority of teaching health professionals noted challenges in implementation of IPE
such as poor coordination and large student population and major factors influencing ethics and professionalism in
healthcare such as limited government support, low pay for the health care workers, disrespect and lack of appreciation
of the health workers by the public.
Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that IPE, IPP, ethics and professionalism are not emphasized in the clinical
years of study at MakCHS. We recommend increased sensitization on the concepts of IPE and IPP plus enhanced mentorship
for both students and teaching health professionals. Innovative strategies of implementation of IPE and IPP for
training in ethics and professionalism must be introduced.
Description
Keywords
Inter-professional education, Practice, Ethics, Professionalism, Makerere University
Citation
Byakika-Kibwika, P., Kutesa, A., Baingana, R., Muhumuza, C., Kitutu, F. E., Mwesigwa, C., ... & Sewankambo, N. K. (2015). A situation analysis of inter-professional education and practice for ethics and professionalism training at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. BMC research notes, 8(1), 1-8. DOI 10.1186/s13104-015-1577-y