Addressing health workforce inequities in the Mindanao regions of the Philippines: Tracer study of graduates from a socially-accountable, community-engaged medical school and graduates from a conventional medical school. (3rd August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Halili, Servando 'Ben'; Cristobal, Fortunato; Woolley, Torres; Ross, Simone J.; Reeve, Carole; Neusy, A-J.
• Is Part Of: Medical teacher. Volume 39:Number 8(2017)
• Page Start: 859
• Page End: 865
• Publication Date: 2017-08-03
• Subjects: Medical education -- Periodicals; 610.711
• DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2017.1331035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-159X

Abstract

Abstract: Developing and retaining a high-quality medical workforce in low-resource countries is a worldwide challenge. The Filipino Ateneo de Zamboanga University–School of Medicine (ADZU-SOM) has adopted a strong focus on socially accountable health professional education (SAHPE) in order to address the shortage of physicians across rural and urban communities in the Western Mindanao region. A cross-sectional survey of graduates from two Philippines medical schools: ADZU-SOM in the Mindanao region and a medical school with a more conventional curriculum, found ADZU-SOM graduates were more likely to have joined the medical profession due to a desire to help others ( p = 0.002), came from lower socioeconomic strata ( p = 0.001) and had significantly ( p < 0.05) more positive attitudes to community service. ADZU graduates were also more likely to currently work in Government Rural Health Units ( p < 0.001) or be generalist Medical Officers ( p < 0.001) or Rural/Municipal Health Officers ( p = 0.003). ADZU graduates were also less likely to work in private or specialist Government hospitals ( p = 0.033 and p = 0.040, respectively) and be surgical or medical specialists ( p = 0.010 and p < 0.001, respectively). The findings suggest ADZU-SOM's SAHPE philosophy manifests in the practice choices of its graduates and that the ADZU-SOM can meet the rural and urban health workforce needs of the Western Mindanao region.