Teaching aids and skills acquisition materials in family medicine training in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Background: Family Medicine (FM) is a new discipline in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The use of teaching aids and skills
acquisition materials in family medicine training has provided a better learning experience for trainers and trainees. However, some training centres, trainers and trainees fall short of these.

Aim: The study sought to determine the awareness, availability and use of teaching aids and skills acquisition materials in family  medicine training centres in DRC.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study among 25 Family Doctors (FD) made up of six trainers and 19 trainees in the four hospitals accredited for residency training in family medicine by the Protestant University of Congo. An electronic questionnaire was used to obtain information from participants on sociodemographic characteristics, awareness, availability and use of teaching aids and  skills acquisition materials. Data were analysed using epi info 3.5.4. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise data.

Results: Atotal of  25 respondents consisting of 6 trainers and 19 trainees took part in the study. The mean age of respondents was 39±7 years with majority  (44.0%) working in mission hospitals and residing in urban settings (72.0%). Most of the trainers (66.7%) had less than 5 years of  training experience. There was a generally high level of awareness among respondents on areas where modern teaching aids can be  deployed to enhance Family Medicine training. Both trainers and trainees in all the family medicine training centres in the DRC were  willing to use modern teaching aids in their training but were however limited by cost. They were however, satisfied with the use of the  available teaching aids.

Conclusion: Most family medicine trainers and trainees were aware of and supported the use of teaching  aids/skills acquisition materials but were constrained by the cost of acquiring them.