BMC Medical Education (Jun 2023)

The educational value of ward rounds as a learning and teaching opportunity for house officers, medical officers, and registrars in Sudanese hospitals: a multi-center cross-sectional study

  • Mohammed Mahmmoud Fadelallah Eljack,
  • Fadi M. Toum Ahmed,
  • Elfatih A. Hasabo,
  • Mohammed Alfatih,
  • Khabab Abbasher Hussien Mohamed Ahmed,
  • Walaa Elnaiem,
  • Malaz Tarig AbdAlla Mohamed,
  • Alaa Ahmed,
  • Fayha. M. Mdani Hamood,
  • Amina Alfatih Idris Hajhamd,
  • Raga Muawia Mukhtar Ahmed,
  • Alia Fadl Alla Bashir Mansoor,
  • Esraa Mohammed Ahmed,
  • Yageen Makki Elsaid Ahmed Eisa,
  • Nagwa yassin Mohammed Taha,
  • Mohga Elshafie Ahmed,
  • Ammar alemam diab alnour,
  • Duha Osman abdalatheem tayfour,
  • Leenah MS Mohammed,
  • Entisar Abdalla Zin elabdein Ahmed,
  • Samaher Tajeldeen,
  • Maha Ali Abdelrasoul,
  • Iman Magdi Mohamed Balla,
  • Hiba Awadelkareem Osman Fadl,
  • Tawheed Abdelfatah Hamza Ahmed,
  • Abdalla Yousif,
  • Qaswarah A. Abdulrazique,
  • Mohammed Sabri,
  • Hanouf Nasreldeen Dafalla,
  • Mawada fath Alrahaman,
  • Farah Riyad Gafar Mohamed,
  • Alaa Mohammed Osman Basher Ahmed,
  • Noon hatim Khalid Alrabee,
  • Marwa Elbannan Elhassan Mohamed Ali,
  • Monia Mukhtar Ali,
  • Abdelrahim Abdelrazig Ahmed Ibrahim,
  • Ahmed A.Wahaballah,
  • Mohammed Elbagir,
  • Esrar Adel Alkhier,
  • MA Ahmed,
  • Alamin Mustafa,
  • Akram Khalid Altigany,
  • Amna Elaagib,
  • Yahya Almakey,
  • Israa Kamaleldin mohammed Altayeb,
  • Gorashi Humida,
  • Mohamed Hamid Abdelsalam Mohamed,
  • Ahmed Tajalsir Mohamed ali,
  • Omnia Mokhtar Mohammed Ahmed

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04404-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Background Ward rounds are a cornerstone in the educational experience of junior doctors and an essential part of teaching patient care. Here, we aimed to assess the doctors’ perception of ward rounds as an educational opportunity and to identify the obstacles faced in conducting a proper ward round in Sudanese hospitals. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted from the 15th to the 30th of January 2022 among house officers, medical officers, and registrars in about 50 teaching and referral hospitals in Sudan. House officers and medical officers were considered the learners, while specialist registrars were considered the teachers. Doctors’ perceptions were assessed using an online questionnaire, with a 5-level Likert scale to answer questions. Results A total of 2,011 doctors participated in this study (882 house officers, 697 medical officers, and 432 registrars). The participants were aged 26.9 ± 3.2 years, and females constituted about 60% of the sample. An average of 3.1 ± 6.8 ward rounds were conducted per week in our hospitals, with 11.1 ± 20.3 h spent on ward rounds per week. Most doctors agreed that ward rounds are suitable for teaching patient management (91.3%) and diagnostic investigations (89.1%). Almost all the doctors agreed that being interested in teaching (95.1%) and communicating appropriately with the patients (94.7%) make a good teacher in ward rounds. Furthermore, nearly all the doctors agreed that being interested in learning (94.3%) and communicating appropriately with the teacher (94.5%) make a good student on ward rounds. About 92.8% of the doctors stated that the quality of ward rounds could be improved. The most frequently reported obstacles faced during ward rounds were the noise (70%) and lack of privacy (77%) in the ward environment. Conclusion Ward rounds have a special value in teaching patient diagnosis and management. Being interested in teaching/learning and having good communication skills were the two major criteria that make a good teacher/learner. Unfortunately, ward rounds are faced with obstacles related to the ward environment. It is mandatory to ensure the quality of both ward rounds' teaching and environment to optimize the educational value and subsequently improve patient care practice.

Keywords