An analysis of interneship training in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The internship period is a critical phase in the continuum of training provided to medical students. An analysis was made of the tasks the intern medical officers in Sri Lanka are engaged in during their period of training in different clinical disciplines. Data was collected by direct observations by trained observers for a continuous period of 10 days and self-reporting by the interns at the two teaching hospitals and four of the provincial hospitals where interns are posted. The reliability of the data was high. The results indicated the wide differences in the learning experiences of the interns in important aspects of patient care in the different training situations. The non-availability of any guidelines to the consultants with respect to the training intended is another deficiency. The study shows an urgent need to implement a planned and monitored internship programme in the country.

Preparing medical graduates in Sri Lanka for a productive internship and beyond: The "Good Intern Program"

“…The needs assessment confirms that internship for Sri Lankan doctors is a stressful undertaking for which they feel underprepared as is common with medical graduates around the world [28]. The lack of communication skills, identified in this study, is especially concerning since it has the potential to extend beyond the internship period affecting both doctorpatient contact and the personal lives of the participants.…”

An evaluation of training in family health for medical students and internes in Sri Lanka

“…However, it would have been interesting to determine the responses of the internes in the more outstation hospitals in Sri Lanka on this point. An earlier study of interneship revealed that the internes in such outstation hospitals were granted a much greater degree of responsibility for most tasks in comparison with the internes in the teaching hospitals and the larger provincial hospitals in the country (Abeykoon et al , 1981).…”

“…Obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatrics are considered as surgery and medicine appointments respectively. An earlier study of the interneship has pinpointed the deficiencies in this scheme (Abeykoon et al , 1981) and since then they have been reinforced with respect to obstetrics and gynaecology (Rodrigo, 1981). The suggestion has been made by the latter as well as by the Faculties of Medicine at Peradeniya and Colombo that a restructuring of the interneship to include training in all four major clinical disciplines and, preferably, also in community medicine is appropriate for Sri Lanka's requirements of health care delivery.…”

“…Questions were given in obstetrics, paediatrics and preventive and social medicine on certain topics in family health at irregular intervals. During the internship, regular training was not given in family planning methods to all the internes (Abeykoon et al , 1981).…”

Medical education in Sri Lanka: perspective of a medical educationist

“…The MEU Peradeniya conducted a research study on internship [8] and made recommendations for follow up. The internship is an important year for medical graduates to decide on their choice of future career in medicine.…”