Impact of Community-Based Medical Education on Graduate Performance: A Qualitative Study Using a Critical Incident Technique

Purpose: This study aims to explore the impact of community-based education on graduates’ work performance and career paths in later life. Methods: A self-administered critical incident questionnaire was given to a group of graduates from a communitybased medical school. The target population was the graduates of the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Gezira who graduated between the years 1984-2021. Participants responded using audio recording or in writing and reported on ‘critical incidents’ they had experienced. Data was analysed using thematic data analysis to develop codes, categories and themes from the critical incident techniques. Results: Twenty-three critical incidents were reported from a total of 91 responses yielded from the recorded and written data. Most of the incidents take place in the Interdisciplinary Field Training, Research and Rural Development Programme, as well as in Rural Residency, Primary Health Care Centre Practice, and Family Medicine. From the reporting of the critical incidents, five themes were identified concerning the benefit of community-based education in learning at undergraduate level: leadership, care of patients, professionalism, personal development and belonging. Similarly, five themes demonstrating the impact of community-based education after graduation were also identified including improving patient care, improving health system practice, curriculum development, self-improvement skills, and family medicine practice. Discussion: Community-based education was shown to have a positive impact on students learning at undergraduate and post graduate level. Community-based education is also associated with the development of essential skills required by medical doctors after graduation.