title: Internship training adequately prepares South African medical graduates for community service - with exceptions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 2-year internship period for medical graduates began in South Africa in 2005 and has never been formally evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the perceptions of community service medical officers (COSMOs) working at district hospitals (DHs) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to determine whether the 2-year internship programme had adequately prepared them for community service (CS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted regarding the perceptions of COSMOs working at 22 district hospitals in KZN. Data were collected in July 2012, using a questionnaire based on the core skills and knowledge detailed in the Health Professions Council of South Africa intern log book. All eight domains were self-assessed and a score of 4 out of 5 indicated an ability to work independently.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the COSMOs, 78% (60 out of 89) completed the questionnaire. Most felt well-prepared for CS in all disciplines, but critical gaps in knowledge and skills were identified in paediatrics, orthopaedics, anaesthetics and obstetrics. In addition, 75% of respondents (45 out of 60) expressed a need for additional training in the disciplines of ear, nose and throat (ENT), urology, ophthalmology and dermatology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 2-year internship has provided the basis for independent medical practice in DHs. However, certain critical skill gaps need urgent attention, particularly in obstetrics and anaesthesia. Areas of weakness in ENT, urology, ophthalmology and dermatology could be addressed by including these specialities as a compulsory rotation in surgery, medicine or family medicine during internship training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. dr.nkabinde@gmail.com.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Nkabinde
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Nkwanyana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004493:Education / Q000592:standards*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012938:Social Perception; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires