Identifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-Saharan Africa using a modified Delphi method
Abstract Background Recent increases in health professions education (HPE) research in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), though substantial, have predominantly originated from single institutions and remained uncoordinated. A shared research agenda can guide the implementation of HPE practices to ultimately...
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doaj-d1b47607f1a2434cb608e89f0d9842b32020-11-25T04:12:04ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202020-11-0120111010.1186/s12909-020-02367-zIdentifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-Saharan Africa using a modified Delphi methodSusan C. Van Schalkwyk0Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde1Jehan Z. Budak2Michael J. A. Reid3Marietjie R. de Villiers4Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch UniversityHealth Workforce, African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST)Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of WashingtonDivision of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, University of California San FranciscoDivision of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch UniversityAbstract Background Recent increases in health professions education (HPE) research in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), though substantial, have predominantly originated from single institutions and remained uncoordinated. A shared research agenda can guide the implementation of HPE practices to ultimately influence the recruitment and retention of the health workforce. Thus, the authors aimed to generate and prioritise a list of research topics for HPE research (HPER) in SSA. Methods A modified Delphi process was designed to prioritise a shared agenda. Members of the African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth) technical working group (TWG) were asked to first list potential research topics. Then, members of the same TWG and attendees at the annual AFREhealth academic symposium held in Lagos, Nigeria in August 2019 rated the importance of including each topic on a 3-point Likert scale, through two rounds of consensus seeking. Consensus for inclusion was predefined as ≥70% of respondents rating the topic as “must be included.” Results Health professions educators representing a variety of professions and 13 countries responded to the survey rounds. Twenty-three TWG members suggested 26 initial HPER topics; subsequently 90 respondents completed round one, and 51 completed round 2 of the modified Delphi. The final list of 12 research topics which met predetermined consensus criteria were grouped into three categories: (1) creating an enabling environment with sufficient resources and relevant training; (2) enhancing student learning; and (3) identifying and evaluating strategies to improve pedagogical practice. Conclusions Establishing research priorities for HPE is important to ensure efficient and appropriate allocation of resources. This study serves as a reminder of how the prevailing context within which HPE, and by implication research in the field, is undertaken will inevitably influence choices about research foci. It further points to a potential advocacy role for research that generates regionally relevant evidence.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-020-02367-zHealth professions educationResearchDelphi methodAfrica |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Susan C. Van Schalkwyk Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde Jehan Z. Budak Michael J. A. Reid Marietjie R. de Villiers |
spellingShingle |
Susan C. Van Schalkwyk Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde Jehan Z. Budak Michael J. A. Reid Marietjie R. de Villiers Identifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-Saharan Africa using a modified Delphi method BMC Medical Education Health professions education Research Delphi method Africa |
author_facet |
Susan C. Van Schalkwyk Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde Jehan Z. Budak Michael J. A. Reid Marietjie R. de Villiers |
author_sort |
Susan C. Van Schalkwyk |
title |
Identifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-Saharan Africa using a modified Delphi method |
title_short |
Identifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-Saharan Africa using a modified Delphi method |
title_full |
Identifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-Saharan Africa using a modified Delphi method |
title_fullStr |
Identifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-Saharan Africa using a modified Delphi method |
title_full_unstemmed |
Identifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-Saharan Africa using a modified Delphi method |
title_sort |
identifying research priorities for health professions education research in sub-saharan africa using a modified delphi method |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Medical Education |
issn |
1472-6920 |
publishDate |
2020-11-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Recent increases in health professions education (HPE) research in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), though substantial, have predominantly originated from single institutions and remained uncoordinated. A shared research agenda can guide the implementation of HPE practices to ultimately influence the recruitment and retention of the health workforce. Thus, the authors aimed to generate and prioritise a list of research topics for HPE research (HPER) in SSA. Methods A modified Delphi process was designed to prioritise a shared agenda. Members of the African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth) technical working group (TWG) were asked to first list potential research topics. Then, members of the same TWG and attendees at the annual AFREhealth academic symposium held in Lagos, Nigeria in August 2019 rated the importance of including each topic on a 3-point Likert scale, through two rounds of consensus seeking. Consensus for inclusion was predefined as ≥70% of respondents rating the topic as “must be included.” Results Health professions educators representing a variety of professions and 13 countries responded to the survey rounds. Twenty-three TWG members suggested 26 initial HPER topics; subsequently 90 respondents completed round one, and 51 completed round 2 of the modified Delphi. The final list of 12 research topics which met predetermined consensus criteria were grouped into three categories: (1) creating an enabling environment with sufficient resources and relevant training; (2) enhancing student learning; and (3) identifying and evaluating strategies to improve pedagogical practice. Conclusions Establishing research priorities for HPE is important to ensure efficient and appropriate allocation of resources. This study serves as a reminder of how the prevailing context within which HPE, and by implication research in the field, is undertaken will inevitably influence choices about research foci. It further points to a potential advocacy role for research that generates regionally relevant evidence. |
topic |
Health professions education Research Delphi method Africa |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-020-02367-z |
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