Med Teach Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Calgary on 02/05/15 For personal use only.

LETTERS I

Training for Paramedical Personnel Madam, Whilst plagiarism may be the most sincere form of flattery, i t is also pleasing to find that others arc advocating that somcbody should do what one is already

doing. In the Editorial ‘WHO Has Got it Right’(Medica1 Teacher, 1980.2,61-62) i t was stated that “unfortunately, there is little evidence. at least in the U K , that the medical educational technology courses have ceased to pin thcir faith on teaching doctors about visual aids and MCQs, and have turned their attention as well to barefoot paramedics and acupuncture!” Later it was suggested that a “reorientation away from training mainly teachers of medical schools to teachers of other categories of health personnel” would bc desirable. In view of these comments it is maybe worth drawing attention to the fact that in 1979 Professor Fendall established a three-month coursc ‘Teaching in Primary Health Carc’ at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. This course is d c signed specifically to enable teachers of paramedical personnel to improve their teaching skills, including analysis of community health needs in order to define training objectives, curriculum developmcnt, selection and use of appropriate teaching methods, assessment of health care skills, cvaluation and management

of training programmes and the implementation and dissemination of educational innovations. On the basis of thc evaluation of the first course it appeared that the participants found this ‘the kind of thing they like’ and we feel that the course does go some way towards meeting an important need. ?’he course has also succeeded in meeting another criticism made in your Editorial, since one of the participants has already run a similar course in her own country. As a result of this kind of feedback and evidence from the other participants of the kinds of innovations which they have been able to put into effect, we believe that the course does contribute to “the achievement in Mcm. ber Statcs of an acceptable level of health care for all members of the community”.

F. R . Abbatt Senior Lecturer Department of International C o m m u n i t y Health Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Pem brv ke Place Liverpool 1.3 5QA

MEDICAL & SCIENTIFIC

BOOKSHOP H. K. LEWIS hold a most comprehensive stock on all branches of MEDICINE and SCIENCE Catalogues w i l l be sent on request.

Please state particular interests

MEDICAL & SCIENTIFIC L I B R A R Y Annual Subscription from f7.50 (Reduced rates for multiple subscription) Prospectus post free on request (Available in U.K. only)

H. K. LEWIS & Co Ltd., 136 GOWER STREET, LONDON WClE6BS Telephone: 01-387 4282

204

Medical Teacher V o l 2 N o 4 1980

Letters: training for paramedical personnel.

Letters: training for paramedical personnel. - PDF Download Free
78KB Sizes 3 Downloads 0 Views