The perceptions of and courase evaluation of the MPH degree by former Wits students who graduated in the period 2001-2007

[摘要] Background: In 1998 the Wits Faculty of Health Science began to offer a master’sprogramme in public health, through the School of Public Health, called the Master ofPublic Health. (MPH). The aim of the degree is to prepare 'professionals to playleadership roles in the management, improvement and evaluation of health and the healthcare system” and to respond 'to the needs of the people of South Africa and the Africancontinent in their various living and working conditions”. Eight objectives have been setfor the degree and these will be gone into in detail. Admission requirements to theprogramme are a bachelor’s degree of a minimum of four years duration in dentistry,medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, etc. The programme can beoffered on a full- or part-time basis. The following core modules are offered: PrimaryHealth Care & Social Context of Health; Health Measurement I & II; Environmental &Occupational Health; Public Health Law & Health Systems Integration; Health Policy&Policy Analysis; Health Systems & Decentralization; Health Management Theory &Practice; Epidemiology; Health Care Financing etc. The primary motivation for this studywas to determine the level of satisfaction of MPH graduates with the degree that theystudied.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study design. It was a survey that entailedusing a pretested interview schedule or questionnaire. The study population was all MPHgraduates up until June 2007 (N = 80). The participants were contacted telephonically orby e-mail by the researcher. The initial idea was to interview the participantstelephonically, but most preferred to have the prepared interview schedule e-mailed tothem. A Pilot Study (using 8 students) was conducted before commencement of theactual study. The pilot study revealed that the study questionnaire, although long andcumbersome, was do-able. A sample of 70 graduates was used and of these, 60 respondedi.e. response rate of 86%. The researcher e-mailed the interview schedule and theinformation sheet which explained what the study was about and also made it clear thateven if they had initially agreed to participate, they could still opt out if they laterchanged their minds. The information sheet further explained that their participationwould be kept strictly anonymous, only codes would be used.The data gathering sheet (questionnaire) is in two parts: Part One is the 'CourseEvaluation” and Part Two is the 'Value of the Masters in Public Health to Your Career”.Under Part One the candidates gave their views on the following: the content of variouscourses or modules offered; the teaching methods applied by the School; academicquality; administrative support; and research report support. Questions in each of thesesubsections were such that a rating on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being excellent and 1 poor) hadto be given and next to the score (rating) the candidate could also give a comment toexplain the rating or how they felt about what was asked. At the end of each of the subsectionsare a number of open-ended questions that gave the candidate more scope forfurther written or verbal input. Similarly, Part Two has a rating on a scale of 1 to 5 (5being extremely valuable and 1 less valuable) in terms of the value the particular courseor module mentioned in the career of the graduate. There is also a 'comment” portionaccompanying every question. And at the end of this part are six open-ended questionsaimed at eliciting more qualitative information based on the experiences of graduates postgraduation and specifically focusing on the working environment. One very importantquestion in this section is: 'Would you or have you recommended this mastersprogramme to others”. There are only two possible answers to this question: 'Yes” –which signifies satisfaction with the programme, and 'No” – which signifies unhappinesswith the programme. It is a very important question in gauging client satisfaction.Results: On a rating of 1 to 5 (1 being poor whilst 5 is excellent the top rated modules were rated as follows under course evaluation: (i) Primary Health Care & Social Contextof Health: All respondents (60 i.e. 100%) rated this module and gave it a rating of 4.13(83%) (ii) Health Policy and Policy Analysis: Although 40 (67%) out of 60 peopleresponded to this question, they gave it a rating of 4.25 (85%) (iii) Project Managementfor Public Health Practitioners: It was given a 4.27 (85%) rating by 44 (73%) out of 60participants. (iv) Management in Health and Health Services: This module was given arating of 3.83 (77%) by 58 (97%) out of 60 participants and (v) Introduction toManagement in Theory and Practice: It was rated at 3.82 (76%) by 32 (53%) of the 60participants. The same top-rated above modules were rated as follows under 'Value ofthe Masters in Public Health (MPH) to your career” i.e. Part II of the questionnaire. (i)Primary Health Care & Social Context of Health: 3.26 (65%) as rated by 46 (77%) out 60participants. (ii) Health Policy and Policy Analysis: 3.96 (79%) by 46 (77%) respondentsout of 60. (iii) Project Management for Public Health Practitioners: 3.26 (65%) as ratedby 46 (77%) out 60 participants. (iv) Management in Health and Health Services: 3.96(79%) by 54 (90%) out of 60 participants.Discussion: Various laudable written comments made by participants about eachmodule have been captured and recorded. These will be seen later. (i) Primary HealthCare & Social Context of Health: This module received a very high from all theparticipants of the research study. The concepts of Primary Health Care and SocialContext of Health have clearly been taught and grasped. (ii) Health Policy and PolicyAnalysis: This was the track that most graduates followed. It helped graduates understandand be able to analyse various policy issues in their respective organizations. Emphasishas not only been laid on policy formulation but also on policy implementation. (iii)Project Management for Public Health Practitioners: This module scored a very highrating under course evaluation. There is a perception that some public health servicescould be run as projects in an endeavour to increase efficiency. (iv) Management inHealth and Health Services: A number of the students who come from the public healthsector to do MPH are in management positions already, although they may not have aformal management qualification. Those who are not in management positions arepreparing themselves to go into management positions in future. This module is of greatassistance in preparing them for careers in management.The study has revealed that 98% of participants have stated that they would or haverecommended the Wits MPH to others. And 80% of the participants have also stated thatthere has been a positive change in their careers since acquiring the MPH qualification.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand