A qualitative study of young Nigerian family physicians’ views of their specialty

South African Family Practice

 
 
Field Value
 
Title A qualitative study of young Nigerian family physicians’ views of their specialty
 
Creator Yakubu, Kenneth Hoedebecke, K Pinho-Costa, L Popoola, O Okoye, I
 
Subject family medicine; primary health care family practice; grounded theory; identity crisis; Nigeria; primary health care
Description Background: In Nigeria, the specialty of family medicine (FM) has endured its own share of identity crises. This study was aimed at generating hypotheses about what describes a practising family physician (FP) and the specialty, according to young Nigerian FPs.

Methods: Using the online platform for young African FPs alongside text messages and emails from volunteer research assistants over an eight-week period (March 3 to April 30, 2015), a purposive sample of young Nigerian FPs were asked to describe their favourite aspect of FM in a single word/phrase. Responses were provided in English/individual’s mother tongue. Translation of the words was performed by respondents and additional collaborators fluent in these languages. Thematic analysis using the grounded theory approach was performed.

Results: Twenty-four responses were received consisting of four themes: Scope, Family, Skills/Feelings/Values, and Professional Fulfilment. The resulting data portrayed the FP as one who possesses a unique skill-set, enjoys fulfilment in the profession, deals with undifferentiated diseases and is able to provide holistic care for patients (irrespective of age and gender) from a family-centred perspective. When compared with accepted domains of FM for Africa and Europe, roles of the FP in community-oriented care and primary care management were absent.

Conclusion: While this showcases the young Nigerian FPs’ acceptance of their role in providing comprehensive primary care, it suggests a lesser acceptance of their role in community-oriented primary care as well as primary care management. This study provides a basis for future, quantitative research describing attitudes and competence in these areas.

(Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp)

S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2017.1292694
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2017-07-10
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Qualitative research
Format application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/safp.v59i3.4553
 
Source South African Family Practice; Vol 59, No 3 (2017): May/June; 56 2078-6204 2078-6190
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/4553/5591
 
Coverage Africa; Nigeria — —
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