World Congress of Physiotherapy 2007 - Poster Presentation
24/06/07 14:45
Volunteer
Clinical Placements for Canadian Physiotherapists and
Physiotherapy Students in a Community Based
Rehabilitation Programme in Rural Kenya
Julie Hard, Crystal MacKay, Carilus Okidi
Variations in professional rehabilitation services exist throughout the world. In Kenya, access to rehabilitation services are limited by the few trained therapists in rural areas and by funding limitations. People living with disabilities in resource-poor areas may not receive health care attention due to Kenya’s fee-for-service model in addition to the cost of travel to community hospitals. Canadian rehabilitation professionals and students who are willing to offer volunteer clinical expertise are believed to be able to bridge this gap in care while expanding their understanding of their profession within a developing world context.
1. Develop a partnership between a rural community based project in Kenya and Canadian rehabilitation students and professionals
2. Provide services to a resource poor area in Nyanza province, Kenya
3. Develop an understanding of physiotherapy practice in developing communities through a volunteer placement
Students and therapists from Canada interested in volunteering in rural Kenya contact the Kenya Working Group (KWG) of the International Center for Disability and Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto through e-mail. A meeting with the director of the KWG determines their expectations, learning objectives and time frame for placement. Therapists and students are given an outline of the Kenyan project area, an orientation package as well as a list of resources available within the Kenyan programme. Although costs are the responsibility of volunteers, the KWG assists in fundraising projects.
The Kenyan programme coordinator arranges community clinics, home visits, clinic days, and training sessions for Kenyan community members based on volunteer's clinical expertise, learning objectives, time frames and community needs. In addition to providing rehabilitation services, volunteers identify clients requiring further medical attention including arrangements for surgical interventions. Volunteers work along side and are supervised by an accredited Kenyan physiotherapist.
All community members living with disabilities are encouraged to attend clinics providing a diverse population group. Children with neurological deficits comprise the majority of clients as a result of high prevalence rates of malaria, meningitis and TB in the region. Burns, fractures, congenital malformation and other orthopaedic complaints are also common. People with HIV often present to the clinic as a result of symptoms associated with opportunistic infections. Volunteers assist in providing education and direction to the local HIV counseling, testing and treatment clinics while providing support or treatment for symptomatic complaints.
Success of the programme is measured by the number of community members assessed and treated by volunteers. Volunteers meet with the Kenyan programme coordinator at the end of each week for feedback on learning objectives and to discuss challenges faced while in the field. Student evaluations are standardized using the Clinical Performance Index as part of evaluation for success in their academic placement.
Prior to 2006 no statistical data is available on the number of clients assessed. Volunteers assisted in establishing data collection measures and record keeping systems. In 2006, 1484 people with disabilities were assessed in the community and in clinic, surpassing the programme goal of 1200.
Volunteer placements began in 2003 and have shown an annual step-wise increase in the number of participants. By end of 2007, a total of 20 volunteers (13 students, 7 professionals) will have participated. To date, all student volunteers have completed their degree programmes and achieved success in sitting the Canadian Physiotherapy National Examination qualifying them for practice in Canada.
Community members within a resource-poor setting who otherwise would not have access to care received treatment. Under the supervision of existing Kenyan therapists, Canadian students and professionals develop new skills while learning about challenges facing rural Kenyans through immersion in a community based rehabilitation project.
Further research is needed to determine the impact of Canadian volunteers in the community as well as the impact on practice for therapists who have had this experience.
This programme partnership could be used as a model for future partnerships between resource-poor community based rehabilitation projects and advanced education and training programs in Canada. Success of partnerships is dependent on dedicated local professionals serving their community in the rural areas and on the availability of funding, which is essential to the sustainability of community based projects.
Volunteer placements are beneficial for supplementing services and raising awareness of disability but are not intended to replace capacity building of local rehabilitation professionals in resource-poor communities.
Julie Hard, Crystal MacKay, Carilus Okidi
Variations in professional rehabilitation services exist throughout the world. In Kenya, access to rehabilitation services are limited by the few trained therapists in rural areas and by funding limitations. People living with disabilities in resource-poor areas may not receive health care attention due to Kenya’s fee-for-service model in addition to the cost of travel to community hospitals. Canadian rehabilitation professionals and students who are willing to offer volunteer clinical expertise are believed to be able to bridge this gap in care while expanding their understanding of their profession within a developing world context.
Purpose
1. Develop a partnership between a rural community based project in Kenya and Canadian rehabilitation students and professionals
2. Provide services to a resource poor area in Nyanza province, Kenya
3. Develop an understanding of physiotherapy practice in developing communities through a volunteer placement
Description
Students and therapists from Canada interested in volunteering in rural Kenya contact the Kenya Working Group (KWG) of the International Center for Disability and Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto through e-mail. A meeting with the director of the KWG determines their expectations, learning objectives and time frame for placement. Therapists and students are given an outline of the Kenyan project area, an orientation package as well as a list of resources available within the Kenyan programme. Although costs are the responsibility of volunteers, the KWG assists in fundraising projects.
The Kenyan programme coordinator arranges community clinics, home visits, clinic days, and training sessions for Kenyan community members based on volunteer's clinical expertise, learning objectives, time frames and community needs. In addition to providing rehabilitation services, volunteers identify clients requiring further medical attention including arrangements for surgical interventions. Volunteers work along side and are supervised by an accredited Kenyan physiotherapist.
All community members living with disabilities are encouraged to attend clinics providing a diverse population group. Children with neurological deficits comprise the majority of clients as a result of high prevalence rates of malaria, meningitis and TB in the region. Burns, fractures, congenital malformation and other orthopaedic complaints are also common. People with HIV often present to the clinic as a result of symptoms associated with opportunistic infections. Volunteers assist in providing education and direction to the local HIV counseling, testing and treatment clinics while providing support or treatment for symptomatic complaints.
Success of the programme is measured by the number of community members assessed and treated by volunteers. Volunteers meet with the Kenyan programme coordinator at the end of each week for feedback on learning objectives and to discuss challenges faced while in the field. Student evaluations are standardized using the Clinical Performance Index as part of evaluation for success in their academic placement.
Results
Prior to 2006 no statistical data is available on the number of clients assessed. Volunteers assisted in establishing data collection measures and record keeping systems. In 2006, 1484 people with disabilities were assessed in the community and in clinic, surpassing the programme goal of 1200.
Volunteer placements began in 2003 and have shown an annual step-wise increase in the number of participants. By end of 2007, a total of 20 volunteers (13 students, 7 professionals) will have participated. To date, all student volunteers have completed their degree programmes and achieved success in sitting the Canadian Physiotherapy National Examination qualifying them for practice in Canada.
Conclusion
Community members within a resource-poor setting who otherwise would not have access to care received treatment. Under the supervision of existing Kenyan therapists, Canadian students and professionals develop new skills while learning about challenges facing rural Kenyans through immersion in a community based rehabilitation project.
Further research is needed to determine the impact of Canadian volunteers in the community as well as the impact on practice for therapists who have had this experience.
This programme partnership could be used as a model for future partnerships between resource-poor community based rehabilitation projects and advanced education and training programs in Canada. Success of partnerships is dependent on dedicated local professionals serving their community in the rural areas and on the availability of funding, which is essential to the sustainability of community based projects.
Volunteer placements are beneficial for supplementing services and raising awareness of disability but are not intended to replace capacity building of local rehabilitation professionals in resource-poor communities.