Aims and attitudes--teaching primary health care at UCT

The objective of this study was to determine the attitude of student interns completing their exposure to primary health care (PHC) to: (i) the need for the teaching of PHC; (ii) whether or not the aims of the block had been realized in their case; (iii) the tutors as clinicians and as teachers; (iv) the structure of the exposure; and (v) the PHC emphasis they would have liked. Of a class of 188 student interns, 156 completed an attitude questionnaire (a statement is given and students indicate whether they agree, disagree, or are uncertain). It was found that 96% wanted teaching in PHC, 90% thought that they had improved their skill in assessing and managing PHC problems, 82% thought that they had improved their consultation technique, 88% thought that their tutors were competent clinically and 79% that they were competent as teachers, 61% wanted more exposure to Third World PHC, 47% wanted more exposure to Western family practice, and 41% were dissatisfied with sections of the exposure. An attitude survey can provide useful feedback from student interns on the relevance, aims, effectiveness, structure and teaching of PHC block.