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Developing a competency-based curriculum for eye care managers in Sub-Saharan Africa
Renee du Toit1, Colin Cook, Deon Minnies
1The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand. rdutoit@hollows.org.nz
Rural and Remote Health
|June 1, 2010
Summary
To address the shortage of eye care providers in developing nations, essential management competencies were identified and integrated into a postgraduate diploma program in Sub-Saharan Africa. This ensures training aligns with real-world needs for better eye health services.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Management
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Developing countries face a significant shortage of healthcare providers for visual impairment.
- Skilled management is crucial for efficient and effective eye care delivery.
- A need exists to train specialized managers for eye care programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define and incorporate essential competencies for eye care managers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- To enhance the curriculum of the Postgraduate Diploma in Community Eye Health (PGDCEH) course.
- To improve the quality and accessibility of eye care services through better management.
Main Methods:
- Competencies were developed through consultations with ophthalmologists and program managers.
- Information was gathered from curriculum planning meetings and existing management skill requirements.
- Developed competencies were mapped onto the PGDCEH curriculum at the University of Cape Town.
Main Results:
- Core competencies aligned with generic management skills.
- Additional competencies included population health, medical education, and public health.
- Broader aspects like patient-centered care were integrated into the curriculum.
Conclusions:
- Participatory and multidisciplinary approaches ensured context-appropriateness of the competencies.
- Defined competencies clarify learning outcomes and form the basis for assessment.
- These competencies can inform job descriptions and performance evaluations for graduates.
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