Awareness, Availability and Use of Teaching Aids and Skills Acquisition Materials in Family Medicine Training Centres in West Africa

Abstract

Introduction: Teaching aids and skills acquisition tools are rapidly forming an integral part of Family Medicine postgraduate training worldwide. While some training centres in West Africa have made concerted efforts to ensure their use, many still have a lot to improve on. Hence, there is a need to objectively determine its level of awareness, availability, and use in the sub-region.
 Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving all consenting Heads of Department and Training Coordinators of all centres with current West Africa College of Physicians Family Medicine accreditation. The Google link to a questionnaire comprising socio-demographic variables, questions on awareness, availability and use of various teaching aids and skill acquisition tools was sent to the respondents via WhatsApp message. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine factors associated with and predictors of availability and use of teaching aids/skills acquisition tools.
 Results: The response rate was 107(84.3%) from all currently accredited West Africa College of Physicians Family Medicine training centres. Their mean age was 54±7 years; they were predominantly 93(86.9%) certified as trainers. All the respondents felt the use of teaching aids/skills acquisition materials will enhance learning in their departments. However, most were aware and used traditional resources (97.2%) and non-electronic (96.3%) resources. Only 10 (9.3%) respondents had mannequins for training Resident Doctors.
 Conclusion: Most Family Medicine Trainers in West Africa are aware and support the use of teaching aids/skills acquisition materials. However, the uptake is currently very low. There is an urgent need for the Postgraduate College and all stakeholders to look into ways of improving the use of teaching aids/skills acquisition materials in the sub-region.
 Keywords: Awareness; Family Medicine; Skills acquisition; Teaching aids; West Africa.