title: Evaluating international global health collaborations: perspectives from surgery and anesthesia trainees in Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of international academic partnerships and global health programs is expanding rapidly worldwide. Although the benefits of such programs to visiting international partners have been well documented, the perceived impacts on host institutions in resource-limited settings have not been assessed adequately. We sought to describe the perspectives of postgraduate, Ugandan trainees toward international collaborations and to discuss how these perceptions can be used to increase the positive impact of international collaborations for the host institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey among anesthesia and surgery trainees at Makerere College of Health Sciences (Kampala, Uganda) using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire. Data were summarized as means or medians where applicable; otherwise, descriptive statistical analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 43 eligible trainees, 77% completed the questionnaire. The majority (75%) agreed that visiting groups improve their training, mostly through skills workshops and specialist camps. A substantial portion of trainees reported that international groups had a neutral or negative impact on patient care (40%). Only 15% agreed that research projects conducted by international groups are in priority areas for Uganda. Among those surveyed, 28% reported participation in these projects, but none has published as a coauthor. Nearly one-third of trainees (31%) reported discomfort with the ethics of some clinical decisions made by visiting faculty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current perspective from the surgery and anesthesia trainees of Makerere College of Health Sciences demonstrates rich ground for leveraging international collaborations to improve training, primarily through skills workshops, specialist camps, and more visiting faculty involvement. This survey also identified potential challenges in collaborative research and ethical dilemmas that warrant further examination.
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda. Electronic address: elobuemmy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alex E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Elobu
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kintu
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galukande
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaggwa
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Cephas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mijjumbi
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tindimwebwa
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dubowitz
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Doruk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozgediz
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Science, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipnick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000592:standards*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D005791:Patient Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda