North-South exchange and professional development: experience from Mali and France.

BACKGROUND: Developing countries are facing the challenge of developing a family practice culture in a context in which clinical practice remains strongly associated with hospital practice. To what extent can professional exchange between GPs from North and South fuel novel professional identities in family practice?
OBJECTIVES: Assess to what extent a North-South professional exchange programme involving rural GPs from Mali and France affected practice development and professional identity formation of Malian GPs.
METHODS: Qualitative analysis of 19 exchanges between rural GPs from Mali and France based on (i) interviews; (ii) retrospective report analysis; (iii) field observation of three exchanges; (iv) workshop with Malian GPs; and (v) workshop with French GPs.
RESULTS: Malian GPs reported increased self-esteem, increased concern for doctor-patient communication and innovations in practice organization. Although Malian participants considered a transfer from France's general practice irrelevant, the experience was thought provoking. The interpersonal and professional interaction was crucial. The Malian Rural Doctors Association provided a platform to capitalize on individual experiences in a process of collective professional identity construction. Costs of the programme were kept low, limiting possible side expectations of participants.
CONCLUSIONS: North-South professional exchange can contribute to professional development. Exchange programmes should be designed as mutual learning processes, rather than unilateral assistance or transfer of practice models. Southern family practitioners are likely to improve primary care to individuals and families, while Northern GPs can draw lessons from the community perspective of primary health care in the South. Recruitment and preparation of participants are crucial, as well as collective reflection upon return.