Graduates’ perceptions of prosthetic and orthotic education and clinical practice in Tanzania and Malawi

Lina Magnusson, Harold G Shangali, Gerd Ahlström

Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterpeer-review

190 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Maintaining and improving the quality of prosthetics and orthotics education at the Tanzania Training Centre for Orthopaedic Technologists is essential for the provision of appropriate prosthetics and orthotics services in African countries.Objectives: To describe how Tanzanian and Malawian graduates’ of the Diploma in Orthopaedic Technology perceive their education and how it could be improved or supplemented to facilitate clinical practice of graduates.Methods: Nineteen graduates from the diploma course in orthopaedic technology were interviewed and phenomenographic analysis was applied to the data.Results: Seven descriptive categories emerged, namely varied awareness of the profession before starting education, well-equipped teaching facilities, aspects lacking in the learning context, need for changes in the curriculum, improvements to the content and learning environment. Conclusions: Prosthetic and orthotic education can be better provided by modifying the content of the diploma programme by dedicating more time to the clinical management of different patient groups and applied biomechanics as well as reducing the programme content focusing on technical aspects of prosthetic and orthotic practice. Graduates were not prepared for the rural working conditions and the graduates desired continued training.Magnusson, L., Shangali, H.G. & Ahlström, G., 2016, ‘Graduates’ perceptions of prosthetic and orthotic education from a professional perspective’, African Journal of Disability 5(1), a142. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v5i1.142
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2017 May 6
EventAPO-SADC Region Conference - Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 2017 May 62017 May 7
http://apo-sadc.org/product/apo-sadc-region-prosthetics-orthotics/

Conference

ConferenceAPO-SADC Region Conference
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityCape Town
Period2017/05/062017/05/07
Internet address

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Occupational Therapy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Graduates’ perceptions of prosthetic and orthotic education and clinical practice in Tanzania and Malawi'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this