Abstract
BackgroundDespite Hong Kong government's official commitment to the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) over the last ten years, there appears to have been limited progress in public sector initiated career development and postgraduate training (PGT) for public university trained TCM practitioners. Instead, the private TCM sector is expected to play a major role in nurturing the next generation of TCM practitioners. In the present study we evaluated TCM graduates' perspectives on their career prospects and their views regarding PGT.MethodThree focus group discussions with 19 local TCM graduates who had worked full time in a clinical setting for fewer than 5 years.ResultsGraduates were generally uncertain about how to develop their career pathways in Hong Kong with few postgraduate development opportunities; because of this some were planning to leave the profession altogether. Despite their expressed needs, they were dissatisfied with the current quality of local PGT and suggested various ways for improvement including supervised practice-based learning, competency-based training, and accreditation of training with trainee involvement in design and evaluation. In addition they identified educational needs beyond TCM, in particular a better understanding of western medicine and team working so that primary care provision might be more integrated in the future.ConclusionTCM graduates in Hong Kong feel let down by the lack of public PGT opportunities which is hindering career development. To develop a new generation of TCM practitioners with the capacity to provide quality and comprehensive care, a stronger role for the government, including sufficient public funding, in promoting TCM graduates' careers and training development is suggested. Recent British and Australian experiences in prevocational western medicine training reform may serve as a source of references when relevant program for TCM graduates is planned in the future.
Highlights
Introduction oftraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services into the public healthcare system, including integrated TCM-western medicine services at both outpatient [9] and inpatient levels[10]; 3
Graduates were generally uncertain about how to develop their career pathways in Hong Kong with few postgraduate development opportunities; because of this some were planning to leave the profession altogether. They were dissatisfied with the current quality of local postgraduate training (PGT) and suggested various ways for improvement including supervised practice-based learning, competency-based training, and accreditation of training with trainee involvement in design and evaluation. In addition they identified educational needs beyond TCM, in particular a better understanding of western medicine and team working so that primary care provision might be more integrated in the future
TCM graduates in Hong Kong feel let down by the lack of public PGT opportunities which is hindering career development
Summary
Introduction ofTCM services into the public healthcare system, including integrated TCM-western medicine services at both outpatient [9] and inpatient levels[10]; 3. Despite Hong Kong government's official commitment to the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) over the last ten years, there appears to have been limited progress in public sector initiated career development and postgraduate training (PGT) for public university trained TCM practitioners. Development of traditional Chinese medicine in postcolonial Hong Kong Whilst traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been part of the culture for centuries its official position in both mainland China and Hong Kong has varied. In the mainland it has been officially part of the healthcare system since 1950 when it was promoted by Mao Tse Tung, and remains an integral part of care provision [1,2]. In the past 10 years, the three major developments in TCM include: 1. Formal regulation and registration of TCM practitioners by the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK), a statutory TCM regulation body established under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
