Undergraduate emergency medicine in an African medical school – Experiences from Botswana

Introduction: In August 2011, the first cohort of students at the University of Botswana School of Medicine (UBSOM) began their third year of undergraduate medical training. As part of their 2011–2012 curriculum they each completed a 10 week rotation in Emergency Medicine (EM), involving problem bas...

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Main Authors: Megan Cox, Amit Chandra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2013-12-01
Series:African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X13000645
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author Megan Cox
Amit Chandra
author_facet Megan Cox
Amit Chandra
author_sort Megan Cox
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: In August 2011, the first cohort of students at the University of Botswana School of Medicine (UBSOM) began their third year of undergraduate medical training. As part of their 2011–2012 curriculum they each completed a 10 week rotation in Emergency Medicine (EM), involving problem based learning (PBL) sessions, maintenance of log books, case presentations, and clinical time at the Emergency Centre (EC) of the main tertiary referral hospital in Gaborone, Princess Marina Hospital. Methods: Since EM rotations are often undertaken in the final year of medical training, students were given an anonymous voluntary survey to study the effect of an EM experience in their first clinical year of training. A 5-point Likert scale was used to evaluate learning opportunities and the overall EM experience. Students described which procedures they had observed or performed in their rotation. The survey concluded with open-ended questions seeking additional feedback. Results: These were very encouraging for both early exposure to EM and the PBL approach. More than 90% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident in clinical settings, improved their clinical decision making process, and found the PBL model to be effective over the rotation. 22 different procedures were observed in the EC with 100% observing venesection and plaster applications. 14 different procedures were performed with 83% students performing venesection and over 65% performing chest compressions and venous cannulation. Discussion: It is hoped that this study will provide valuable practical information about undergraduate EM learning in a PBL based Medical School within Sub Saharan Africa that can be replicated across other medical education institutions throughout the region.
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spelling doaj.art-8e54ac3a6c2f4e368519aa6e41b5cfed2022-12-22T01:33:05ZengElsevierAfrican Journal of Emergency Medicine2211-419X2013-12-013415716310.1016/j.afjem.2013.04.003Undergraduate emergency medicine in an African medical school – Experiences from BotswanaMegan CoxAmit ChandraIntroduction: In August 2011, the first cohort of students at the University of Botswana School of Medicine (UBSOM) began their third year of undergraduate medical training. As part of their 2011–2012 curriculum they each completed a 10 week rotation in Emergency Medicine (EM), involving problem based learning (PBL) sessions, maintenance of log books, case presentations, and clinical time at the Emergency Centre (EC) of the main tertiary referral hospital in Gaborone, Princess Marina Hospital. Methods: Since EM rotations are often undertaken in the final year of medical training, students were given an anonymous voluntary survey to study the effect of an EM experience in their first clinical year of training. A 5-point Likert scale was used to evaluate learning opportunities and the overall EM experience. Students described which procedures they had observed or performed in their rotation. The survey concluded with open-ended questions seeking additional feedback. Results: These were very encouraging for both early exposure to EM and the PBL approach. More than 90% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident in clinical settings, improved their clinical decision making process, and found the PBL model to be effective over the rotation. 22 different procedures were observed in the EC with 100% observing venesection and plaster applications. 14 different procedures were performed with 83% students performing venesection and over 65% performing chest compressions and venous cannulation. Discussion: It is hoped that this study will provide valuable practical information about undergraduate EM learning in a PBL based Medical School within Sub Saharan Africa that can be replicated across other medical education institutions throughout the region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X13000645UndergraduateEmergency MedicineBotswanaEducation
spellingShingle Megan Cox
Amit Chandra
Undergraduate emergency medicine in an African medical school – Experiences from Botswana
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Undergraduate
Emergency Medicine
Botswana
Education
title Undergraduate emergency medicine in an African medical school – Experiences from Botswana
title_full Undergraduate emergency medicine in an African medical school – Experiences from Botswana
title_fullStr Undergraduate emergency medicine in an African medical school – Experiences from Botswana
title_full_unstemmed Undergraduate emergency medicine in an African medical school – Experiences from Botswana
title_short Undergraduate emergency medicine in an African medical school – Experiences from Botswana
title_sort undergraduate emergency medicine in an african medical school experiences from botswana
topic Undergraduate
Emergency Medicine
Botswana
Education
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X13000645
work_keys_str_mv AT megancox undergraduateemergencymedicineinanafricanmedicalschoolexperiencesfrombotswana
AT amitchandra undergraduateemergencymedicineinanafricanmedicalschoolexperiencesfrombotswana