New Zealand postgraduate medical training by distance for Pacific Island country-based general practitioners: a qualitative study
Katharina Blattner
1 2 * , Allamanda Faatoese 3 , Mark Smith 2 , Kiki Maoate 3 , Rory Miller 2 , Rosalina Richards 1
1 Va’a o Tautai, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
2 Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, 201 Great King Street, Dunedin Central, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
3 Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Journal of Primary Health Care 14(1) 74-79 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC21090
Published: 13 April 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Introduction: New Zealand health training institutions have an important role in supporting health workforce training programmes in the Pacific Region.
Aim: To explore the experience of Pacific Island country-based doctors from the Cook Islands, Niue, and Samoa, studying in New Zealand’s University of Otago distance-taught Rural Postgraduate programme.
Methods: Document analysis (16 documents) was undertaken. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with Pacific Island country-based students. Thematic analysis of the interviews was undertaken using the framework method. The two data sources were analysed separately, followed by a process to converge and corroborate findings.
Results: For Pacific Island countries with no previous option for formal general practice training, access to a recognised academic programme represented a milestone. Immediate clinical relevance and applicability of a generalist medical curriculum with rural remote emphasis, delivered mainly at a distance, was identified as a major strength. Although technologies posed some issues, these were generally easily solved. The main challenges identified related to the provision of academic and other support. Traditional university support services and resources were campus focused and not always easily accessed by this group of students who cross educational pedagogies, health systems and national borders to study in a New Zealand programme. Study for individuals worked best when it was part of a recognised and supported Pacific in-country training pathway.
Discussion: The University of Otago’s Rural Postgraduate programme is accessible, relevant and achievable for Pacific Island country-based doctors. The programme offers a partial solution for training in general practice for the Pacific region. Student experience could be improved by tailoring and strengthening support services and ensuring their effective delivery.
Keywords: Cook Islands, distance education, general practice, medical education, Pacific, postgraduate medical training, remote learning, rural medicine, workforce.
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