Building capacity in Clinical Epidemiology in Africa: experiences from Masters programmes

Taryn Young,Tania Brodovcky,Tonya Esterhuizen,Celeste Naude

doi:10.1186/s12909-017-0885-4

Taryn Young, Tania Brodovcky + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-017-0885-4

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Abstract

BackgroundTo describe and contrast programmatic offering of Clinical Epidemiology Masters programmes in Africa, to evaluate experiences of graduates and faculty, and assess if graduates are playing roles in research, practice and teaching of Clinical Epidemiology.MethodsWe searched and identified relevant programmes, reviewed programmatic documentation, interviewed convenors and surveyed graduates. Participants provided informed consent, interviews with faculty were recorded and transcribed for analysis purposes, and graduates participated in an online survey.ResultsFive structured Masters programmes requiring health science professionals to complete modules and research projects were assessed. Demand for programmes was high. Graduates enjoyed the variety of modules, preferred blended teaching, and regarded assessments as fair. Graduates felt that career paths were not obvious after graduating. Despite this, some have gone on to promote and teach evidence-based health care, and conduct and disseminate research. Areas of concern raised by faculty were quality assurance; research project initiation, implementation and supervisory capacity; staff availability; funding to support implementation and lack of experiential learning.ConclusionAlthough faced with challenges, these programmes build capacity of health professionals to practice in an evidence-informed way, and conduct rigorous research, which are central to advancing the practice of Clinical Epidemiology in Africa.

Highlights

To describe and contrast programmatic offering of Clinical Epidemiology Masters programmes in Africa, to evaluate experiences of graduates and faculty, and assess if graduates are playing roles in research, practice and teaching of Clinical Epidemiology
Within the African region various continuing professional development initiatives focus on building capacity in evidence-informed practices [4] and work by organisations like Cochrane has been instrumental in raising awareness of evidence-based health care (EBHC) [5]
An internet search was conducted in Google using the terms ‘clinical epidemiology masters’ to identify Masters programmes with a core focus on Clinical Epidemiology that are being offered by universities in Africa

Summary

Introduction

To describe and contrast programmatic offering of Clinical Epidemiology Masters programmes in Africa, to evaluate experiences of graduates and faculty, and assess if graduates are playing roles in research, practice and teaching of Clinical Epidemiology. Clinical Epidemiology is the science of applying the best available research evidence to patient care [1]. It uses the methods of epidemiology to find scientifically valid answers to questions concerning diagnosis, prevention, therapy, prognosis and aetiology, improving the evidence base for the care of individual patients. More advanced training at a Masters level has focussed on public health and epidemiology programmes. The majority of the latter programmes are concentrated in South Africa and Nigeria, support increased research productivity, and the number of these programmes have been shown as independent predictors of research productivity [6]. About the extent and structuring of Masters level Clinical Epidemiology training

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