Perception of Fresh Graduates and new Academic Faculty Regarding Specialty of “Health Professional Education” as a Career- A Multicentre Study in Pakistan

Abstract

Objectives: To gain insight into emerging medical professionals’ awareness and willingness to choose health profession education as their career Study design: Quasi experimental trial. Place and duration of study: HIT Hospital Taxila in the period of 6 months. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in 3 institutes Wah Medical College (Wah Cantt), UMDC (Lahore), Sardar Begum Dental College and Kabir Medical College (Peshawar) and allied hospitals. The participants were selected via convenience sampling. MBBS and BDS graduates were included in the study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire using nominal YNDK scale used to evaluate the understanding regarding Health professional education. Data was collected and analyzed in SPSS version 23. Results: Eighty-five participants completed the questionnaire with equal male female ratio. The participants were well aware of the field and were well acquainted with MHPE.A significant number of participants agreed on making it part of undergraduate curriculum as 67% of them faced difficulties during their undergraduate studies. 91% encouraged Health professional education training at their institutes and 70% of them have Health professional education department. PBL and OSCE were known to 55.3% and 88.2% respondents respectively. Experience alone cannot make one a good teacher was expressed by 71.8% participants while 47.1% respondents command on subject is enough for being a good teacher. 65.9% participants stated that Health professional education is a demanding that involves active teaching not merely a managerial job. Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for more research into how medical professionals see health profession education. The ever-changing healthcare landscape requires educational programs that are in line with potential students’ knowledge base and objective to enhance health profession education that develops a skilled and driven healthcare workforce in Pakistan.