title: Developing an educational research framework for evaluating rural training of health professionals: a case for innovation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  World-wide, rural clinical training of undergraduate medical students is looking to transform learning experiences, calling for the adoption of innovative approaches that create spaces for curriculum renewal and new ways of thinking. In order for these teaching models to gain acceptance and credibility among the relevant academic communities, it is critical that they be studied and evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article describes an innovative rural education intervention and a concomitant, intentional process that was adopted to establish a research framework within which the intervention will be evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Key role-players participated in a one-day workshop aimed at developing the framework. A collaborative, structured process that moved through three phases of deliberation and reflection was followed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The documentation and raw data generated during the workshop was used to generate the framework that will serve as a blueprint for ensuring the study and evaluation of the educational innovation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Establishing an educational research framework, by adopting a consultative and collaborative process, provides a vehicle for encouraging a culture of critical accountability that seeks to discern evidence of good practice in the training of health care workers in a rural context.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Health Professions Education, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa. scvs@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Schalkwyk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bezuidenhout
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Burch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Conradie
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Heerden
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Villiers
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006040:Goals; D006126:Group Processes; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D019035:Rural Health Services; D013019:South Africa