Introducing a Primary Health Care nurse training course at the University of Limpopo: Experiences and views of trainees

Background: A new post-basic Primary Health Care (PHC) nurse training was piloted at theUniversity of Limpopo in rural South Africa in order to reinforce PHC services and to addressthe backlog of trained PHC nurses. The training comprised residential and decentralisedtraining modules based on the principles of problem based learning and community basededucation, and a patient-centred care approach developed in the field of family medicine wasapplied for acquiring consultation skills. Clinical reasoning was improved through on-sitesupervision by individual preceptors.Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the satisfaction, experiences and views oftrainees in the first year of implementing the new PHC nurse training programme.Method: The study had a descriptive, exploratory and cross-sectional design, and usedquantitative and qualitative methods for data collection that included a semi-structuredsurvey questionnaire and focus group discussion. A purposive sample of trainees enrolled inthe pilot programme (n = 15) was recruited for this study. Results were analysed quantitativelyfor the survey questionnaire and content analysis was used for qualitative data.Results: Results revealed trainee satisfaction with the quality of community based visitsand classroom lectures and dissatisfaction with on-site supervision and training material.Qualitative findings indicated a need to improve information and communication ofsupervisors and preceptors, and to provide more training material. Factors related to thework environment were identified as barriers to implement learning, but the use of toolsdeveloped in family medicine curricula was perceived as beneficial. Lessons learnt includedthe need for strong programme coordination and stakeholder commitment, as well as theneed to develop a competence framework for PHC nursing.Conclusion: The implementation of a pilot programme for PHC nurse training had theoutcomes of trainee satisfaction with the mixed method of teaching, and valuable lessonswere learned with regard to programme implementation and organisation. Integration oftools and concepts developed in the field of family medicine proved beneficial, and severalrecommendations were formulated to inform similar projects.

Jaar van publicatie:2011

Trefwoorden:Primary Health Care, Nurses, Training, Consultation skills., South Africa