The Millennium Development goal 6 Partnership for African Clinical Training (M-PACT) Clinical Course: a six months' post training impact survey

Abstract

Context: The Royal College of Physicians of London and the West African College of Physicians have a long history of collaboration with a focus on postgraduate education. The Millennium Development Goal 6 Partnership for African Clinical Training (M-PACT) Clinical Course project was undertaken to improve the theoretical and practical knowledge base in the pertinent diseases of the Millennium Developments Goals (MDG 6): Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and medical leadership. Aim: To assess the impact of the training on everyday practice of the participants at least six months’ post training. Material and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was used to execute this study between April to May 2016. A self-administered questionnaire was used for this study. Questionnaires were distributed using SurveyMonkey®. Data were analyzed using SurveyMonkey® Analysis Tool and Microsoft Excel Sheet. Results: A total of 73 trainees from six different courses responded to the survey. Majority (76.06%) of all respondents were from tertiary facilities. The survey revealed a positive influence on the clinical practice of participants, on prescription patterns, diagnostic approaches, and case findings in the community. A number of new concepts such as “Doctors as Leaders” were learned by the participants with over 80% of respondents desiring further trainings in leadership. Conclusion: The M-PACT courses had changed the knowledge base of the participants with more confident diagnosis, management and prescribing reported as a result. We suggest that this format for postgraduate teaching is important not only in West Africa, but throughout sub-Saharan Africa.