Neighbourly Assistance to Train Future Doctors

A team from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the Divine Word University in Madang is at JCU’s Townsville campus this week, being trained to use high-tech medical simulators to teach crucial clinical skills.

“In the past, the University has relied a lot on theory to teach these crucial skills because it hasn’t had the resources and tools to teach them in a more practical fashion,” said JCU Clinical Skills Lecturer, Karryn Lytton, who is helping to deliver the training.

“The participants are all medicos, physiotherapists or health extension officers who teach at the Divine Word University, so they’ll take the skills they've learned here back to the University and use them to enhance the teaching of clinical skills.”

Divine Word University (DWU) was able to buy the high-tech simulation equipment with assistance from an Australian Federal Government grant, managed through the PNG Government.

DWU’s Head of Medicine, Professor Jerzy Kuzma, said the team of five will pass on their new skills to other medical educators at the University, and to other health services around the region.

“We will run workshops for faculty staff to disseminate our skills. We will also help train staff at other health education institutions, such as the nearby nursing colleges, and even to the hospital and other health services.”

Until now, the first time many medical students in Madang practised their skills would have been on a live patient.

Professor Kuzma said having the life-like mannequins for training will be a huge benefit for them.

“It's training in a very comfortable and safe environment.  The students can have repeated attempts and we can spend more time on teaching those who need more assistance developing their skills.  They can gain a certain level of clinical competence before they reach patients,” Professor Kuzma said.

Ms Lytton runs simulation training for JCU medical students. She said it allows students to gain confidence with their clinical skills, which are the basics of medical practice.

“Adding simulation gives you the ability to provide a safe learning environment for students where they can practise, and where it’s okay to make mistakes as there are no real people involved,” Ms Lytton said.

“Students become much more comfortable that they’re really learning those skills, so when they transfer them into the real world and are dealing with real people they are more confident and competent.”

JCU Director of Clinical Studies, Dr Roy Rasalam said the project is a collaboration between two like minded universities.

“We’re working together to empower DWU medical academics to deliver low to high fidelity simulation,” Dr Rasalam said.

“This will enhance both the undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in PNG and potentially produce work ready graduates.”