Evaluating the Ethics of Global Health Training Programs

Background and Issues: There is desire for students and providers to assist with global health programs in providing health care to vulnerable populations.  Unfortunately, there is little research on the ethical practices of these programs and the need for sustainable partnerships.  Ethical practices need to be identified related to the experience and scope of service providers/trainees along with the expectations of the host facility.    

Description:  A large Midwestern University has recently partnered with the Pothawera clinic in Salima, Malawi.  This clinic serves an impoverished population and hopes to create a sustainable partnership with the university.  The partnership being in its infancy, there is much to learn in how to facilitate a grassroots effort to support the goals of the clinic along with creating a positive learning experience for the students. 

Lessons Learned:  Upon evaluation of this service learning trip, three successes along with three barriers in fulfilling the host organization and the University’s faculty/student goals will be discussed.  This will be augmented with the identification of the how ethical practices were met.  Acknowledgement of the strengths and challenges of this service learning program will help guide future programs to provided positive reciprocal experiences for all involved.

Recommendations: Incorporating the recently published Working Group on Ethics Guidelines for Global Health Training Programs (WEIGHT) in addition to acknowledging needs of the host organization and University faculty/student will provide a continuing foundation for partnership.  Finally, proper pre-immersion, immersion, and post-immersion training for the team are essential for future successes of the service program.

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Learning Areas:

Ethics, professional and legal requirements
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
Describe 3 ethical considerations with global health service programs Discuss 3 ways students and providers can be prepared to give best medical care while working with global health service programs Identify 2 negative outcomes that can come from service programs if proper preparation is not conducted.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a nurse practitioner, I have participated on multiple global health service programs internationally as a provider and instructor. It has become an increasing interest of mine concerning the ethics behind these programs and conducting best medical/nursing for students and providers serving with these programs. This topic is also the subject of my capstone project for my Doctorate of Nursing Practice.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3180.0: Public Health Nursing Students and Education Round Table