JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The Durban University of Technology’s Faculty of Health Sciences in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is embarking on a project to implement a Decentralised Clinical Training Programme (DCTP). This is being actioned in response to the growing demands of students requiring clinical service placements as part of work integrated learning. The project is also geared toward responding to existing gaps in current practices related to the implementation of DCTP which has mainly been through traditional higher education institutions. In South Africa, DCTP is yet to be implemented within the context of a university of Technology, moreover, it is also yet to be implemented within health science faculties that offer undergraduate health science programmes in mainstream biomedicine and alternative and complementary disciplines.

Objective:

To design, pilot and establish an effective Decentralised Clinical Training Programme (DCTP) at the Durban University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods:

A multi-method design will be used to conduct the study, using various stakeholders such as academic staff, students, key informants from universities presently utilising successfully established DCTPs, academic support staff, staff working in human resources, finance, procurement and accounting, and experts in other disciplines such as engineering and information systems. A multi-phase approach will be adopted to gather data and participatory action research will guide the development of the appropriate interventions to pilot and successfully implement DCTP at the Durban University of Technology.

Results:

The project is being implemented as part of the University’s strategic objective of devising innovative curricula to improve mastery, skill sets and competence of health science graduates, in line with the vision of producing graduates who are adaptive, innovative, and responsive to the needs of the country and region.

Conclusions:

It is envisioned that this project will facilitate collaboration between the UoT, traditional university, ministry of health and private sector while facilitating Interprofessional education for health science students. The unique approach of how the study will be executed represents the novelty of this study which will subsequently lead to improved graduate competencies.