Table 1 Comparable questions posed to interns and their supervisors
Questions to interns | Questions to interns’ supervisors |
|---|---|
● Do you feel the following are the main functions of an intern in a Kenyan context? | ● Do you feel the following are the main functions of an intern in a Kenyan context? |
○ Diagnose and manage common clinical problems | ○ Diagnose and manage common clinical problems |
○ Request investigations and interpret results of common tests | ○ Request investigations and interpret results of common tests |
○ Prescribe medicines | ○ Prescribe medicines |
○ Perform common procedures | ○ Perform common procedures |
○ Recognize and treat common emergencies | ○ Recognize and treat common emergencies |
○ Resuscitate unstable patients | ○ Resuscitate unstable patients |
○ Monitor patient’s clinical progress | ○ Monitor patient’s clinical progress |
○ Communicate with patient/family | ○ Communicate with patient/family |
○ Obtain informed consent | ○ Obtain informed consent |
○ Write discharge summary and coordinate patient follow up | ○ Write discharge summary and coordinate patient follow up |
○ Balance work priorities | ○ Balance work priorities |
○ Communicate with the clinical team | ○ Communicate with the clinical team |
○ Seek advice/ know when to refer others? | ○ Seek advice/ know when to refer others? |
● How well prepared were you for these roles? | ● How well prepared were the interns for these roles? |
● What procedures were you expected to do and how well prepared were you to do them? | ● What procedures would you expect an intern to do and how well prepared were they to do them? |
● How skilled were you to perform the following tasks: | ● How skilled were interns to perform the following tasks: |
○ Diagnose and manage common clinical problems | ○ Diagnose and manage common clinical problems |
○ Request investigations and interpret results of common tests | ○ Request investigations and interpret results of common tests |
○ Prescribe medicines | ○ Prescribe medicines |
○ Perform common procedures | ○ Perform common procedures |
○ Recognize and treat common emergencies | ○ Recognize and treat common emergencies |
○ Resuscitate unstable patients | ○ Resuscitate unstable patients |
○ Monitor patient’s clinical progress | ○ Monitor patient’s clinical progress |
○ Communicate with patient/family | ○ Communicate with patient/family |
○ Obtain informed consent | ○ Obtain informed consent |
○ Write discharge summary and coordinate patient follow up | ○ Write discharge summary and coordinate patient follow up |
○ Balance work priorities | ○ Balance work priorities |
○ Communicate with the clinical team | ○ Communicate with the clinical team |
○ Seek advice/ know when to refer | ○ Seek advice/ know when to refer |
● Which groups of common clinical problems did you feel competent to deal with or not? | ● Which groups of common clinical problems do you feel interns are competent to deal with or not? |
○ Maternal problems related to pregnancy and child birth | ○ Maternal problems related to pregnancy and child birth |
○ Neonatal problems | ○ Neonatal problems |
○ Problems of early childhood | ○ Problems of early childhood |
○ Unstable clinical problems in adults requiring hospitalization | ○ Unstable clinical problems in adults requiring hospitalization |
○ Acute illness requiring intensive care | ○ Acute illness requiring intensive care |
○ Stable clinical problems including chronic illnesses that could be managed on an ambulatory basis | ○ Stable clinical problems including chronic illnesses that could be managed on an ambulatory basis |
○ Medical, surgical, obstetrical and paediatric emergencies | ○ Medical, surgical, obstetrical and paediatric emergencies |
● What were your main challenges as an intern? | ● What do you feel are the main challenges facing an intern at a district hospital?? |
● Was there anything you felt ill prepared for? | ● In our discussion with interns they expressed the following about their experience of medical school; what do you think? |
● Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience with interns that we have not covered? | |
● How well are you supported as an intern? | ● What support does an intern at your hospital receive? |
● Are you planning to pursue PGME? | |
● If you were planning UGME curriculum, what would you include to ensure interns are effective in district hospitals in Kenya? | ● If you were planning UGME curriculum, what would you include to ensure interns are effective in district hospitals in Kenya? |