Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33879170›Full record

ArticleHuman resources for health2021

Increasing nursing student interest in rural healthcare: lessons from a rural rotation program in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Susan Michaels-Strasser, Paul W Thurman, Narcisse Mwinkeu Kasongo, Daniel Kapenda, John Ngulefac, Beatrice Lukeni, Serge Matumaini, Lauren Parmley, Rebekah Hughes, Faustin Malele

Open access · goldAbstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Human resources for health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.

Susan Michaels-StrasserICAP At Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA. SM3966@columbia.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-8176-1463
Paul W ThurmanMailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Narcisse Mwinkeu KasongoInstitut Supérieur Des Techniques Médicales (ISTM) de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Daniel KapendaInstitut Supérieur Des Techniques Médicales (ISTM) de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
John NgulefacUnited States Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, , Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
Beatrice LukeniICAP At Columbia University, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Serge MatumainiICAP At Columbia University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Lauren ParmleyICAP At Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Rebekah HughesMailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Faustin MaleleICAP At Columbia University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Columbia University · USICAP Global HealthInstitut Supérieur de Technique Médicale · CDUniversity of Kinshasa · CDHealth Resources and Services Administration · USUniversity of Lubumbashi · CD

Funding

PEPFAR UH6HA30739
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany challenges exist in providing equitable access to rural healthcare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). WHO recommends student exposure to rural clinical rotations to promote interest in rural healthcare. Challenges to rural engagement include lack of adequate infrastructure and staff to lead rural education. This case report highlights key steps in developing a rural rotation program for DRC nursing students. Case presentation To implement a rural rotation (RR) program, ICAP at Columbia University (ICAP) consulted with students, the Ministries of Health (MoH) and Education (MoE), and nursing schools to pilot and expand a rural rotation program. Nursing schools agreed to place students in rural clinics and communities. Key stakeholders collaborated to assess and select rural sites based on availability of nursing mentors, educational resources, security, accessibility, and patient volume. To support this, 85 preceptors from 55 target schools and 30 rural health facilities were trained of which 30 were selected to be "master trainers". These master trainers led the remaining 55 preceptors implementing the rural rotation program. We worked with rural facilities to engage community leaders and secure accommodation for students. A total of 583 students from five Lubumbashi schools and two rural schools outside Kinshasa participated across 16 rural sites (298 students in 2018-2019 school year and 285 in 2019-2020). Feedback from 274 students and 25 preceptors and nursing school leaders was positive with many students actively seeking rural assignments upon graduation. For example, 97% agreed or strongly agreed that their RR programs had strengthened their educational experience. Key challenges, however, were long-term financial support (35%) for rural rotations, adequate student housing (30%) and advocacy for expanding the rural workforce.

conclusionsWith nearly 600 participants, this project showed that a RR program is feasible and acceptable in resource-limited settings yet availability of ample student accommodation and increasing availability of rural jobs remain health system challenges. Using a multipronged approach to rural health investment as outlined by WHO over two decades ago remains essential. Attracting future nurses to rural health is necessary but not sufficient to achieve equitable health workforce distribution.

Indexed as

Rural Health ServicesStudents, NursingDelivery of Health CareDemocratic Republic of the CongoHealth FacilitiesHumansSchools, NursingNursingRecruitmentRural healthcareRural rotations

Identifiers

PMID33879170
PMCPMC8056204
OpenAlexW3112855083

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.