Barriers and Facilitators for a Collaborative International Physical Therapist Residency Program in Nairobi, Kenya

Introduction With the globalization of higher education through online training, opportunities exist for collaboration between institutions to promote ongoing advancement of healthcare professionals in resource-limited countries. The success of these programs is dependent on the ability of the program to meet the educational needs of the student and assist with implementation of the new information into practice. A post graduate residency program for physical therapists was introduced to Kenya to promote the development of the profession of physical therapy. This study sought to explore barriers that affected participation in the residency program, and how participants perceived the residency program fostered the use of new skills in the clinical environment, as well as the limitations they faced in applying the skills gained through the residency program in a clinical setting. Methods and materials The participants in this study were in the third and fourth cohorts of the residency program (n=27). One-on-one interviews were performed with the residents following completion of the program. A qualitative phenomenology research design was used to describe the manner in which the residency was experienced within the context of the environment in which the experience took place. Descriptions and narratives were obtained from the residents to provide a window into their lived experience. Results Four themes were discovered: (1) The ongoing challenge to balance often conflicting responsibilities: family, work and education, (2) A need to educate patients and colleagues on newly acquired skills to gain acceptance, (3) Success in the program, requires reliance on support networks, and (4) Acquiring increased confidence to deliver patient care. Discussion Although the residents faced obstacles for completing the residency and integrating newly acquired knowledge and skills into clinical practice, they were able to formulate strategies to meet these challenges. Understanding the barriers and facilitators that affect participants in international collaborative efforts may ultimately assist residency and other educational programs in designing new models of education, which will advance the physical therapy profession globally.