Is overseas volunteering beneficial to NHS doctors?

<h4>Introduction</h4> <p>Locally requested and planned overseas volunteering in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) by NHS staff can have benefits for the host or receiving nation, but its impact on the professional development of NHS staff is not proven. The Knowledge and Ski...

Täydet tiedot

Bibliografiset tiedot
Päätekijät: Yeomans, D, Le, G, Pandit, H, Lavy, C
Aineistotyyppi: Journal article
Kieli:English
Julkaistu: BMJ Publishing Group 2017
_version_ 1826256981528150016
author Yeomans, D
Le, G
Pandit, H
Lavy, C
author_facet Yeomans, D
Le, G
Pandit, H
Lavy, C
author_sort Yeomans, D
collection OXFORD
description <h4>Introduction</h4> <p>Locally requested and planned overseas volunteering in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) by NHS staff can have benefits for the host or receiving nation, but its impact on the professional development of NHS staff is not proven. The Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) and Leadership Framework (LF) are two tools used by employers as a measure of individual’s development. We have used dimensions from both tools as a method of evaluating the benefit to NHS doctors who volunteer overseas.</p> <h4>Methods</h4> <p>88 NHS volunteers participating with local colleagues in Primary Trauma Care and orthopaedic surgical training courses in sub-Saharan Africa were asked to complete an on-line self-assessment questionnaire 6 months following their return to the UK. The survey consisted of questions based on qualities outlined in both the KSF and LF. </p> <h4>Results</h4> <p>85 completed responses to the questionnaire were received. In every KSF domain assessed, the majority of volunteers agreed that their overseas volunteering experience improved their practice within the NHS. Self-assessed pre- and post-course scores evaluating the LF also saw a universal increase, notably in the “working with others” domain. </p> <h4>Discussion</h4> <p>There is a growing body of literature outlining the positive impact of overseas volunteering on NHS staff. Despite increasing evidence that such experiences can develop volunteers’ essential skills, individuals often find it difficult to gain support of their employers. Our study, in line with the current literature, shows that overseas volunteering by NHS staff can provide an opportunity to enhance professional and personal development. Skills gained from volunteering within international links match many of the qualities outlined in both the KSF and LF, directly contributing to volunteers’ continued professional development. </p>
first_indexed 2024-03-06T18:10:54Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:02fc44fb-d85e-4ad1-ac11-867f659f5e60
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-06T18:10:54Z
publishDate 2017
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:02fc44fb-d85e-4ad1-ac11-867f659f5e602022-03-26T08:43:41ZIs overseas volunteering beneficial to NHS doctors?Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:02fc44fb-d85e-4ad1-ac11-867f659f5e60EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordBMJ Publishing Group2017Yeomans, DLe, GPandit, HLavy, C <h4>Introduction</h4> <p>Locally requested and planned overseas volunteering in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) by NHS staff can have benefits for the host or receiving nation, but its impact on the professional development of NHS staff is not proven. The Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) and Leadership Framework (LF) are two tools used by employers as a measure of individual’s development. We have used dimensions from both tools as a method of evaluating the benefit to NHS doctors who volunteer overseas.</p> <h4>Methods</h4> <p>88 NHS volunteers participating with local colleagues in Primary Trauma Care and orthopaedic surgical training courses in sub-Saharan Africa were asked to complete an on-line self-assessment questionnaire 6 months following their return to the UK. The survey consisted of questions based on qualities outlined in both the KSF and LF. </p> <h4>Results</h4> <p>85 completed responses to the questionnaire were received. In every KSF domain assessed, the majority of volunteers agreed that their overseas volunteering experience improved their practice within the NHS. Self-assessed pre- and post-course scores evaluating the LF also saw a universal increase, notably in the “working with others” domain. </p> <h4>Discussion</h4> <p>There is a growing body of literature outlining the positive impact of overseas volunteering on NHS staff. Despite increasing evidence that such experiences can develop volunteers’ essential skills, individuals often find it difficult to gain support of their employers. Our study, in line with the current literature, shows that overseas volunteering by NHS staff can provide an opportunity to enhance professional and personal development. Skills gained from volunteering within international links match many of the qualities outlined in both the KSF and LF, directly contributing to volunteers’ continued professional development. </p>
spellingShingle Yeomans, D
Le, G
Pandit, H
Lavy, C
Is overseas volunteering beneficial to NHS doctors?
title Is overseas volunteering beneficial to NHS doctors?
title_full Is overseas volunteering beneficial to NHS doctors?
title_fullStr Is overseas volunteering beneficial to NHS doctors?
title_full_unstemmed Is overseas volunteering beneficial to NHS doctors?
title_short Is overseas volunteering beneficial to NHS doctors?
title_sort is overseas volunteering beneficial to nhs doctors
work_keys_str_mv AT yeomansd isoverseasvolunteeringbeneficialtonhsdoctors
AT leg isoverseasvolunteeringbeneficialtonhsdoctors
AT pandith isoverseasvolunteeringbeneficialtonhsdoctors
AT lavyc isoverseasvolunteeringbeneficialtonhsdoctors