A pilot study to identify quality criteria for community -based medical education in Hong Kong

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To better prepare students for the health needs of society, there is pressure on medical svhools to provide greater learning opportunities in the community. On challenge is the on-going quality assurance of these programs. Before setting benchmark standards for quality evaluation, a relevant set of criteria must first be defined. the aim of this study was to identify a locally relevant set of quality criteria for assuring undergraduate medical community-based learning in Hong Kong

METHODS: An audit of the MBBS curriculum was undertaken to identify all eligible community-based learning activities and to obtain information regarding learning objectives, assessments and quality assurance methods. Semi-structured interviews with program coordinators were conducted to explore their perceptions reagrding factors influencing the educational quality of their courses. Interviews were taped, transcripbed and contents thematically analyzed.

RESULTS: 10 program coordinators, representing 14 of the 18 eligible programs were interviewed. 59 items were identified and classifed as structural, process or outcome criteria. Physical cahracteritsing of the learning sites such as size, and accessibility, attributes of the teachers, adequate resourcing for community-based leasrning and stability of community partnerships emergeed as key criteria affecting student learning, whilst professionalism and community-based values towards learning or working in community settings and towards service utilization emerged as key outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Community-based learning in Hong Kong has unique challenges whicih require close attention. In order ro ensure the sustainability of the programs, effforts are needed to indentify ways to nurture and maintain realtaionships with community partners with reciprocal benefits.