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Research ArticleFamily Medicine World Perspective

Family Medicine in Ethiopia: Lessons from a Global Collaboration

Ann Evensen, Dawit Wondimagegn, Daniel Zemenfes Ashebir, Katherine Rouleau, Cynthia Haq, Abbas Ghavam-Rassoul, Praseedha Janakiram, Elizabeth Kvach, Heidi Busse, James Conniff and Brian Cornelson
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine September 2017, 30 (5) 670-677; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2017.05.170086
Ann Evensen
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD, FAAFP
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Dawit Wondimagegn
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD
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Daniel Zemenfes Ashebir
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD
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Katherine Rouleau
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MDCM, CCFP, MHsc
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Cynthia Haq
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD
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Abbas Ghavam-Rassoul
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD
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Praseedha Janakiram
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD, CCFP
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Elizabeth Kvach
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD, MA
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Heidi Busse
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
PhD, MPH
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James Conniff
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD, MPH
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Brian Cornelson
From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AE, CH, JC), Department of Surgery (HB), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI; Department of Psychiatry (DW), Department of Family Medicine (DZA), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; St-Michael's Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada (KR, AGR, PJ, BC); Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO (EK); Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (BC).
MD, CCFP
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Article Figures & Data

Figures

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    Figure 1.

    Key stakeholders in the development of Family Medicine in Ethiopia.

  • Figure 2.
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    Figure 2.

    Influences on relationships and decision making in global health partnerships.

Tables

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    Table 1.

    Comparison of Traditional DAH and GHPs

    FactorTraditional DAHGHPs
    GoalImprove health of patients and communities, decrease disease burdenStrengthen local health systems, foster personal and professional growth for all partners
    DesignReactive, project-focused: Provide HIV testing and medication
    Malaria and tuberculosis control program
    Local health worker education
    Introduce technology (CT scan, mobile apps, dialysis etc.)
    Proactive, system-focused: Support of new medical residency program
    Support of child nutrition program using local resources (human, financial, nutrient sources, distribution networks)
    Source of aidExternal funding provides majority of supportLocal funding for ongoing program needs supplemented by external funding for start-up needs
    Focus on sustainabilityMay not be high priority; intent is to match available external interests/funding to potential applications in a community or organizationTypically high priority; interest exists within a community to support a program after initial support wanes
    Potential attributesCan bring significant influx of financial and expert advice to a community in need. Contacts made as part of traditional DAH may foster future global health partnerships.Relationships and services developed during the partnership may enable additional partnership activities. Community's highest needs are prioritized. May be more successful in addressing root causes of disease.
    Potential challengesReliance on external aid reduces likelihood of sustainability and may siphon local expertise and funds from other needs.Measuring traditional DAH project deliverables may be difficult or take longer. Community or partner priorities may change over time, decreasing chances of program sustainability.
    • Buse et al6, Rosenberg et al7, Starfield8, Olapade-Olaopa9, Melby.10

    • View popup
    Table 2.

    WONCA Global Standards for Postgraduate Family Medicine Education

    Comprehensive document addressing the structure, process and outcome of postgraduate medical education and training:
    • 1) Mission and Outcomes

    • 2) Training Process (structured curriculum that is comprehensive, community-based, continuity of care, care for undifferentiated problems and psychosocial needs; service vs learning)

    • 3) Assessment of trainees (including feedback)

    • 4) Trainees (admission policies, working conditions, support)

    • 5) Staffing (appointments, obligations)

    • 6) Training settings and educational resources (inpatient and outpatient, information technology, team-based care)

    • 7) Evaluation of training process (trainee evaluation of program, using trainee competence as measure, involvement of stakeholders)

    • 8) Governance and administration (leadership, funding, administration)

    • 9) Continuous renewal (quality improvement of program based on needs of communities, institutions and trainees

    • WONCA Working Party on Education.27

    • View popup
    Table 3.

    Highlights from the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health Roadmap for Family Medicine

    The Roadmap was created by using landmark publications regarding the value of family medicine and fundamental components of training programs combined with the authors' experience of establishing the first Ethiopian family medicine program.
    Summarizes the value of family medicine in general, in the African context, and in Ethiopia.
    Recognizes that incorporating family medicine will offer improvements and efficiencies in service and improve access to health care.
    Suggests steps for a well-planned and careful implementation of FM in Ethiopia:
    • 1) Define clear but flexible role for FM in Ethiopian health care system based on both countrywide and local needs and resources. Align role of FM with other primary health care providers.

    • 2) Recruit trainees and establish training programs. Collaborate with international partners to provide faculty until sufficient Ethiopian family physicians have been trained.

    • 3) Introduce family physicians via a pilot program where 2 to 4 physicians lead a primary health care team in a local health care system.

    • WONCA.28

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The Journal of the American Board of Family     Medicine: 30 (5)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Vol. 30, Issue 5
September-October 2017
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Family Medicine in Ethiopia: Lessons from a Global Collaboration
Ann Evensen, Dawit Wondimagegn, Daniel Zemenfes Ashebir, Katherine Rouleau, Cynthia Haq, Abbas Ghavam-Rassoul, Praseedha Janakiram, Elizabeth Kvach, Heidi Busse, James Conniff, Brian Cornelson
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2017, 30 (5) 670-677; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2017.05.170086

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Family Medicine in Ethiopia: Lessons from a Global Collaboration
Ann Evensen, Dawit Wondimagegn, Daniel Zemenfes Ashebir, Katherine Rouleau, Cynthia Haq, Abbas Ghavam-Rassoul, Praseedha Janakiram, Elizabeth Kvach, Heidi Busse, James Conniff, Brian Cornelson
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2017, 30 (5) 670-677; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2017.05.170086
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Keywords

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