Assessment of Local Health Worker Attitudes toward International Medical Volunteers in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Global Survey
Author
Bae, CrystalNaik, Nehal
Misak, Monika
Barnes, Sean L
Verceles, Avelino C
Papali, Alfred
McCurdy, Michael T
Losonczy, Lia I
Date
2020-09Journal
Journal of epidemiology and global healthPublisher
Elsevier Ltd.Type
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND: International Medical Volunteers (IMVs) positively and negatively impact host countries, and the goals of their trips may not always align with the interests of the hosts in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). We sought to better understand local physicians' interest of hosting IMVs and what type of support they desired. METHODS: This study was a convenience sample survey-based needs assessment. The surveys were distributed to local physicians by 28 professional society groups in LMICs. FINDINGS: A total of 102 physicians from 51 countries completed the survey. Despite 61.8% participants having no experience with IMVs, 75% were interested in hosting them. Host physicians most desired clinical education (39%), research collaboration (18%), and Systems Development (11%). The most requested specialties were obstetrics and gynecology (25%) and emergency medicine (11%). Respondents considered public hospitals (62%) to be the most helpful clinical setting in which IMVs could work, and 3 months (47%) as the ideal length of stay. Respondents expressed interest in advertising the specific needs of the host country to potential IMVs (80%). Qualitative analyses suggested hosts wanted more training opportunities, inclusion of all stakeholders, culturally competent volunteers, and aid focused on subspecialty education, health policy, public health, and research. CONCLUSION: Hosts desire more bidirectional clinical education and research capacity building than just direct clinical care. Importantly, cultural competence is key to a successful host partnership, potentially improved through IMV preparation. Finally, respondents want IMVs to ensure that they stay within their scope of practice and training.Rights/Terms
© 2020 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press International B.V.Identifier to cite or link to this item
http://hdl.handle.net/10713/13787ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.2991/jegh.k.200605.001