A stratified competency based learning programme for practitioners of medial aesthetics in South Africa

[摘要] English: In this study, a comprehensive study was carried out by the researcher with the intentionof developing a stratified, competency-based learning programme for practitioners ofmedical aesthetics (MA) in South Africa (SA).MA in the current South African context is characterised by a shortage of literature and alack of evidence-based guidelines for the knowledge, skills and competencies required bythe persons practicing MA in SA. This is in contrast to countries such as Brazil and theUnited States of America, where MA is far more advanced and where guidelines for theregulation of the MA industry are in place. To the contrary, in SA there is a lack of practiceguidelines and regulations applicable to the wide variety of professions involved in thepractice of MA. Furthermore, there is an absence of a stratified, competency learningprogramme for the various professions involved in the practice of MA in SA. Therefore, thisresearch study was carried out in order to develop a stratified, competency-based learningprogramme for practitioners of MA in SA.In addressing the above challenges, the central research question was:What would a stratified, competency-based learning programme consist of in order toprovide learners with the required knowledge, skills and competencies to function asprofessional medical aestheticians in the South African healthcare environment?For this study, an exploratory mixed-method design that was sequential in nature wasfollowed. This design consisted of a two-phased approach, whereby the qualitative phase(desktop study) was followed by a quantitative phase (questionnaire). A desktop study wasfirst applied as a method for collecting qualitative data to highlight the knowledge, skillsand competencies involved in the practice of MA in SA. This assisted in providing therelevant literature and components of programme for MA practitioners. The desktop studyalso assisted to place MA in context and understand its complexities in a South Africancontext. The desktop study was then followed by the questionnaire (quantitative) which was used as another method of gathering data relating to the building of theory on stratifiedknowledge, skills and competencies of MA practitioners in SA. The questionnaires weredistributed to stakeholders involved within the MA fraternity, in order to gain a clear viewof the topic under study.The study resulted in a stratified, competency-based learning programme for medicalaesthetics in South Africa. It became clear that to facilitate MA a short-learning programmewould be suitable. The study meets the need for educational competence and regulationregarding the practice and implementation of MA in SA. The researcher believes thelearning programme that was developed could serve as a source of inspiration to theeducation system as far as MA is concerned in the South African context; by doing so, thestudy may serve to provide encouragement for the regulation and professionalisation of MAin SA. This can be achieved through the expansion of education and training for MA, whichhas the potential to translate into an improvement of the quality of services rendered topatients.The results of this study indicate that there are very few mechanisms for regulating thepractice of MA in SA, which cements the need for and importance of SA having both astratified, competency-based learning programme for MA, and more robust regulatorymechanisms. Having completed the study, the researcher made a number ofrecommendations, the major one being that a pre-test/pilot of the proposed stratifiedcompetency-based learning programme be done, as it may identify issues related to theimplementation process �?this was not the main focus of this study.

[发布机构] University of the Free State