title: Perceived competency deficits and challenges of family medicine trainees in sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A competency-based approach to family medicine (FM) post graduate (PG) training falls short of a holistic process if it focuses only on patients' needs without eliciting those of trainees.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify perceived competency deficits of trainees and challenges hindering achievement of learning outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  PG FM programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a web-based questionnaire with a list of competency items and challenges. Common Factor Analysis was used to ascertain which competency items and challenges accounted for the highest shared variability. A perceived competency deficit was assumed for any item with a component loading of <0.5. For challenges, higher component loadings denoted higher levels of agreement with the annotated item. Data were analysed using SPSS (version 16).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 150 trainees took the survey. Appraising and utilising scientific knowledge was the item with a perceived competency deficit, while poor mentor-mentee relationship was considered the foremost challenge that hindered learning outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Critical appraisal and utilisation of scientific knowledge should be part of every stage of the African FM trainee's learning experience. To achieve this and other learning outcomes, improving mentor-mentee relationships are essential.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family Medicine , University of Jos/Jos University Teaching Hospital , Jos , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yakubu
authors.affiliation: b Discipline of Primary Health Care , University of Rwanda , Kigali , Rwanda.
authors.forename: Maaike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flinkenflögel
authors.affiliation: c Department of Family Medicine , University of Calabar Teaching Hospital , Calabar , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ifeyinwa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okoye
authors.affiliation: d Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine , Moi University , Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Maxwell Mwambuki
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lodenyo
authors.affiliation: e Department of Family Medicine , Federal Staff Hospital , Abuja , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olugbemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Popoola
authors.affiliation: f Department of Family Medicine , Aga Khan University Hospital , Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Gulnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mohamoud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Africa South of the Sahara; family practice; learning; mentors; perception