SURMEPI

Identifying approaches and tools for evaluating community-based medical education programmes in Africa

A Dreyer, I Couper, R Bailey, Z Talib, H Ross, A S Sagay

Abstract


Background. The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-funded Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) aims to support
medical education and research in sub-Saharan African institutions. The intention is to increase the quantity, quality and retention of graduates with
specific skills addressing the health needs of their populations. While many MEPI programmes include elements of community-based education
(CBE), such as community placements, clinical rotations in underserved locations, community medicine, or primary healthcare, the challenge
identified by MEPI-supported schools was the need for appropriate approaches and tools to evaluate these activities. This article outlines the process
of identifying tools that, with modification, could assist in the evaluation of CBE programmes in participating MEPI schools.
Methods. A literature search was carried out to identify approaches and tools that could be used in Africa to evaluate CBE programmes. The search
included published, peer-reviewed literature as well as grey literature and websites. Evaluation tools considered appropriate were obtained from the
articles or their authors for inclusion in a compendium of example CBE evaluation tools. All tools sourced through the search were entered into a
CBE evaluation matrix, which included an analysis of the tool in relation to Kirkpatrick’s four levels of evaluation.
Results. Out of 37 sources included as appropriate, 8 sets of CBE evaluation tools were obtained for the compendium. Most of the evaluations were
quantitative, relied on Likert-type scales, and focused on measuring CBE activities and intermediate outcomes in terms of student learning. When
categorised according to the level of the evaluation, the evaluations largely focused on levels 1 and 2 of the Kirkpatrick model, as measured through
students’ reactions to and learning from the CBE programmes. Tools that focused on student assessment, rather than programme evaluation, were
excluded from the final set.
Conclusion. With the shortage of published literature on CBE evaluation, the findings of this literature review will assist African medical schools in
developing appropriate evaluation approaches and tools.


Authors' affiliations

A Dreyer, Centre for Rural Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa MEPI consultant for the CapacityPlus Project led by IntraHealth International, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

I Couper, Centre for Rural Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa MEPI consultant for the CapacityPlus Project led by IntraHealth International, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

R Bailey, Health Workforce Development, USAID-funded CapacityPlus Project led by IntraHealth International, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Z Talib, MEPI Coordinating Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

H Ross, USAID-funded CapacityPlus Project led by IntraHealth International, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

A S Sagay, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

Full Text

PDF (163KB)

Keywords

Medical education; Community-based education; Evaluation; Tools; Africa; MEPI

Cite this article

African Journal of Health Professions Education 2015;7(1):134. DOI:10.7196/AJHPE.568

Article History

Date submitted: 2014-12-01
Date published: 2016-01-26

Article Views

Abstract views: 8012
Full text views: 2758

Comments on this article

*Read our policy for posting comments here