Master of Primary Health Care degree: who wants it and why?
Abby Andrews 1 , Katharine A. Wallis 1 2 , Felicity Goodyear-Smith 11 Department of General Practice & Primary Health Care, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand
2 Correspondence to: Katharine A. Wallis, Department of General Practice & Primary Health Care, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Email: k.wallis@auckland.ac.nz
Journal of Primary Health Care 8(2) 106-114 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC15026
Published: 30 June 2016
Journal Compilation © Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners 2016.
This is an open access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland is considering developing a Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC) programme. Masters level study entails considerable investment of both university and student time and money.
AIM: To explore the views of potential students and possible employers of future graduates to discover whether there is a market for such a programme and to inform the development of the programme.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 primary health care stakeholders. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and analysed using a general inductive approach to identify themes.
FINDINGS: Primary care practitioners might embark on MPHC studies to develop health management and leadership skills, to develop and/or enhance clinical skills, to enhance teaching and research skills, or for reasons of personal interest. Barriers to MPHC study were identified as cost and a lack of funding, time constraints and clinical workload. Study participants favoured inter-professional learning and a flexible delivery format. Pre-existing courses may already satisfy the post-graduate educational needs of primary care practitioners. Masters level study may be superfluous to the needs of the primary care workforce.
CONCLUSIONS: Any successful MPHC programme would need to provide value for PHC practitioner students and be unique. The postgraduate educational needs of New Zealand primary care practitioners may be already catered for. The international market for a MPHC programme is yet to be explored.
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