Teaching Emergency and Essential Surgical Care in Sierra Leone: A Model for Low Income Countries

• Published in: Journal of surgical education Vol. 68; no. 5; pp. 393 - 396
• Main Authors: Leow, Jeffrey J., MBBS, Groen, Reinou S., MD, Kamara, Thaim B., MD, Dumbuya, Sheiku S., MD, Kingham, T. Peter, MD, Daoh, Kisito S., MD, Kushner, Adam L., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Capacity Building; Clinical Competence; continuing medical education; Developing Countries; developing country; Diffusion of Innovation; Education; emergency and essential surgery; Emergency Medicine - education; General Surgery - education; global surgery; Humans; Interpersonal and Communication Skills; Medical Knowledge; Needs Assessment; Professionalism; Sierra Leone; Surgery; surgical education; Sierra Leone; global surgery; developing country; emergency and essential surgery; Medical Knowledge; surgical education; Professionalism; Interpersonal and Communication Skills; continuing medical education
• ISSN: 1931-7204; 1878-7452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2011.05.012

Background Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), a New York-based organization with a mission to save lives in developing countries, conducted a surgical needs assessment in Sierra Leone in 2008 which identified a large gap in surgical knowledge. We hypothesized that knowledge transfer could be improved by conducting workshops with significant local faculty participation. Design Description of emergency and essential surgical care workshops (EESC) workshops and follow-up. Setting Freetown and Bo, Sierra Leone. Participants International and local health providers in Sierra Leone. Methods SOS organized EESC workshops in collaboration with significant local surgeons' support. Data on subsequent workshops were recorded. Results Fifteen instructors were identified and assisted with teaching. Nine of the instructors were specialists from Sierra Leone. Each workshop lasted 3 days. Feedback was gathered after these workshops Subsequent to the SOS workshops, 8 other workshops were undertaken by local surgeons in Sierra Leone, 5 of which were organized and taught solely by local surgeons working for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Three other workshops were organized with external support. Conclusions EESC workshops organized with significant local input are useful for knowledge transfer and empower local surgeons to conduct subsequent workshops on their own.