Abstract
Presented at: Simulation Summit 2013, to be held November 8 - 9, 2013 in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Objectives: Health care in Ethiopia is challenged by a shortage of health professionals which contributes to the high burden of infant and maternal mortality. To address these gaps, Addis Ababa University, University of Toronto, and the Imperial College collaborated in creating a three-year capacity building project focused on health professional faculty development in interprofessional education and teaching of technical skills using simulation.
Methods: The Universities conducted a needs assessment and planned the project based on input from local health professionals. Canadian educators initially trained Ethiopian faculty members from the departments of surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, nursing, and midwifery in interprofessional education and simulation-based teaching of technical skills. The trained cohort subsequently delivered this content to health professionals at other Ethiopian medical schools. Evaluation of the program was achieved through questionnaires and guided interviews.
Results: An initial program led by educators from the University of Toronto, prepared 12 Addis Ababa University faculty to deliver subsequent courses on interprofessional education and teaching of technical skills to Ethiopian health care providers. The trained cohort disseminated the training to an additional 62 health professionals from five Ethiopian medical schools. Formalized evaluation of the program showed increased acceptance of simulation, a capacity to create and replicate surgical training simulators, knowledge and skills required to teach other faculty, and collaboration between medical schools in Ethiopia and internationally.
Conclusions: A coordinated educational undertaking between three international universities and five Ethiopian medical schools produced positive effects in faculty capacity building, curriculum development, and institutional acceptance in nursing, midwifery, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery.
