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Table 2 Competency clusters with its corresponding tasks and functions

From: Does community health care require different competencies from physicians and nurses?

Competencies

Corresponding tasks/ Functions

Functional competencies

Public Health

Preventive activities, Health promotion, Health education, Screening, Surveillance, Outreach, Case finding and care, Social marketing, Mass vaccination campaigns (national polio days), School health services, Maintaining information system.

Direct Patient Care

"Being a doctor": History taking & recording, Physical assessment, Diagnosing, Prescribing, Minor surgery, Basic lab works, Making referrals and Emergency care.

 

"Being a nurse": Assisting physician, Nursing procedures, Diagnosing and prescribing for common illnesses, Recognising high risk cases & referrals, Home based management of chronic illness, First Aid, Conduct normal delivery, Assess & Resuscitate new born and Post natal care.

Leadership and Management (All tasks identified pertain to Administration)

"Being an administrator": Administration, Conflict Management, Budgeting, Planning and Overseeing implementation of activities, Organising events, Knowledge of and connections with resources and referral services, Chairing or attending meetings, Liaison with management, Maintaining records/reports, Coordination.

Research (mentioned by three participants)

Data collection, Training and Supervision of data collectors, Ensure data quality, Review data and Prepare reports.

Teaching and Learning

"Being a teacher": Coaching, Mentoring, Supervision, Training-Needs-Assessment (TNA), Preparing training courses, On-the-job training in clinical and generic skills for community health workers, Giving feedback.

Community Development and Advocacy

Identifying volunteers, Organising community based groups, Facilitating community representatives for networking with other providers, Help build trust of community in health services/team.

Generic competencies (Cutting across all functional competencies)

Cultural Competence

Knowing & Speaking the same language (or finding an interpreter to understand patients’ complaints); Understanding health and illness beliefs and practices; Providing culturally acceptable/appropriate care.

 

Communication: verbal and written

 

Counselling, Report writing/documentation, Negotiation, Presentation and facilitation.