Enhancing future acceptance of rural placement in Tanzania through peripheral hospital rotations for medical students.

BACKGROUND: Mal-distribution of health care workers is a global health challenge that exacerbates health disparities, especially in resource-limited settings. Interventions to mitigate the problem have targeted qualified personnel with little focus on medical students. However, studies have demonstrated that rural rotations positively influence students to practice in rural settings upon graduation. To evaluate the influence of peripheral rotations in a resource-limited setting, the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College introduced a 12-week clerkship rotation in peripheral hospitals for third-year medical (MD3) students in 2012. We administered an end-of-rotation survey to assess student perceptions, and attitudes toward rural practice after graduation. METHODS: Questionnaires were voluntarily and anonymously administered to MD3 students in April 2014. The questions assessed perceptions of the experience, and attitudes towards rural practice upon graduation. The perceptions were assessed using strength of consensus measures (sCns). The effect of the experience on likelihood for rural practice was assessed using Crude Odds Ratio (COR), and predictors using Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95 % Confidence Intervals (CI) tested at a 5 % level of significance. Variation was assessed using Hosmer and Lemeshow test Chi-square. RESULTS: 111 out of 148 MD3 students participated; 62 % were male; 62 % <25 years old; and 72 % matriculated directly from secondary school. Overall, 81 % of MD3 students were satisfied with rural rotations (sCns = 83 %). The likelihood of accepting rural practice deployment after graduation was predicted by satisfaction with the peripheral hospital rotation program (AOR, 4.32; 95 % CI, 1.44-12.96; p, 0.009) and being male (AOR, 2.73; 95 % CI, 1.09-6.84; p, 0.032). Students admitted in medical school after health-related practice trended toward a higher likelihood of accepting rural practice after graduation compared to those enrolled directly from secondary school, although the difference was not significant (AOR, 4.99; 95 % CI, 0.88-28.41; p, 0.070). The Hosmer and Lemeshow test p-value was 0.686, indicating a good fit of the model. No significant differences in satisfaction between these two groups were observed, and also no significant differences between students born in rural areas compared to those born in urban areas existed. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that satisfaction with rural rotations is associated with increased likelihood of rural practice after graduation. We conclude that opportunities may exist to reduce mal-distribution of healthcare workers through interventions that target medical students.

Building Clinical Clerkships Capacity in a Resource-limited Setting: The Case of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: The shortage of medical doctors in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has resulted in increased enrolment in medical schools, which has not been matched with increased faculty size or physical infrastructure. This process has led to overcrowding and possibly reduced quality of training. To reduce overcrowding at its teaching hospital, the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College introduced eight-week peripheral clerkship rotations in 2012. We explore students' perceptions and attitudes towards peripheral hospital placements. METHOD: The clerkship rotations were conducted in eight hospitals operating in the northern Tanzania, after evaluating each hospitals' capabilities and establishing the optimum number of students per hospital. Paper-based surveys were conducted after student rotations from 2014 to 2016. RESULTS: Overall student satisfaction was moderate (strength of consensus measure (sCns), 77%). The three cohorts exhibited improving trends over three years with respect to satisfaction with clinical skills and attitude towards placements. student-preceptor interaction was rated highly (sCns 81-84%). The first cohort students expressed concerns about limited laboratory support, and poor access to Internet and learning resources. Specific interventions were undertaken to address these concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Student experiences in peripheral rotations were positive with adequate satisfaction levels. Opportunities exist for medical schools in SSA to enhance clinical training and relieve overcrowding through peripheral clerkship rotations.