Tiffany H Kung1, Eugene T Richardson2, Tarub S Mabud3, Catherine A Heaney4, Evaleen Jones5,6, Jessica Evert6,7. 1. Department of Medicine-Infectious Disease, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. tkung@stanford.edu. 2. Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 3. Department of Medicine-Infectious Disease, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. 4. Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. 5. Department of Medicine-General Disciplines, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. 6. Child Family Health International, San Francisco, California, USA. 7. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: High-income country (HIC) trainees are undertaking global health experiences in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) host communities in increasing numbers. Although the benefits for HIC trainees are well described, the benefits and drawbacks for LMIC host communities are not well captured. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the perspectives of supervising physicians and local programme coordinators from LMIC host communities who engaged with HIC trainees in the context of the latter's short-term experiences in global health. METHODS: Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with LMIC host community collaborators with a US-based, non-profit global health education organisation. Interviews took place in La Paz, Bolivia and New Delhi, India. Interview transcripts were assessed for recurrent themes using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Benefits for hosts included improvements in job satisfaction, local prestige, global connectedness, local networks, leadership skills, resources and sense of efficacy within their communities. Host collaborators called for improvements in HIC trainee attitudes and behaviours, and asked that trainees not make promises they would not fulfil. Findings also provided evidence of a desire for parity between the opportunities afforded to US-based staff and those available to LMIC-based partners. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides important insights into the perspectives of LMIC host community members in the context of short-term experiences in global health for HIC trainees. We hope to inform the behaviour of HIC trainees and institutions with regard to international partnerships and global health activities.
CONTEXT: High-income country (HIC) trainees are undertaking global health experiences in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) host communities in increasing numbers. Although the benefits for HIC trainees are well described, the benefits and drawbacks for LMIC host communities are not well captured. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the perspectives of supervising physicians and local programme coordinators from LMIC host communities who engaged with HIC trainees in the context of the latter's short-term experiences in global health. METHODS: Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with LMIC host community collaborators with a US-based, non-profit global health education organisation. Interviews took place in La Paz, Bolivia and New Delhi, India. Interview transcripts were assessed for recurrent themes using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Benefits for hosts included improvements in job satisfaction, local prestige, global connectedness, local networks, leadership skills, resources and sense of efficacy within their communities. Host collaborators called for improvements in HIC trainee attitudes and behaviours, and asked that trainees not make promises they would not fulfil. Findings also provided evidence of a desire for parity between the opportunities afforded to US-based staff and those available to LMIC-based partners. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides important insights into the perspectives of LMIC host community members in the context of short-term experiences in global health for HIC trainees. We hope to inform the behaviour of HIC trainees and institutions with regard to international partnerships and global health activities.
Authors: Chelsea E Modlin; Andrea C Vilorio; Benjamin Stoff; Dawn L Comeau; Tewodros H Gebremariam; Miliard Derbew; Henry M Blumberg; Carlos Del Rio; Russell R Kempker Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2021-11-01 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Paul M Lu; Elizabeth E Park; Tracy L Rabin; Jeremy I Schwartz; Lee S Shearer; Eugenia L Siegler; Robert N Peck Journal: Ann Glob Health Date: 2018-11-05 Impact factor: 2.462
Authors: Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes; Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura; Artur Acelino Francisco Luz Nunes Queiroz; Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa Journal: Ann Glob Health Date: 2020-04-21 Impact factor: 2.462
Authors: Judith N Lasker; Myron Aldrink; Ramaswami Balasubramaniam; Paul Caldron; Bruce Compton; Jessica Evert; Lawrence C Loh; Shailendra Prasad; Shira Siegel Journal: Global Health Date: 2018-02-07 Impact factor: 4.185
Authors: Chris A Rees; Elizabeth M Keating; Heather Lukolyo; Padma Swamy; Teri L Turner; Stephanie Marton; Jill Sanders; Edith Q Mohapi; Peter N Kazembe; Gordon E Schutze Journal: Int J Med Educ Date: 2018-07-27
Authors: Divyanshi Jalan; Helene Morakis; Neil Arya; Yassen Tcholakov; Jennifer Carpenter; William Cherniak Journal: Fam Med Community Health Date: 2020-03-15