Social accountability: A national framework for Turkish medical schools

Abstract

Purpose

To define recommendations to the medical schools in Turkey about social accountability which meets the local needs.

Methodology of the study

The Association of Evaluation and Accreditation of Medical Education Programs (TEPDAD-Turkey) Social Accountability working group planned a study to determine national recommendations for social accountability of medical schools in two-stages. Delphi technique was used to develop the recommendations and finalize the recommendations in the first stage in which 61 members from 30 different institutions participated. Qualitative analysis was used for open questions in the first round and quantitative analysis for the data which is collected with a rating scale in the second and third rounds of the Delphi study. In the second stage, the recommendations were reviewed and finalized in a consensus workshop in which 68 members from 39 different institutions participated.

Results

In the Delphi study 63 recommendations were classified under five themes: the health needs of the society, health service delivery, institutional structure and management, educational program and implementation and development and evaluation of social accountability. In the consensus workshop, the 63 recommendations were evaluated and of which 54 of 63 recommendations were agreed upon.

Conclusion

A national framework has been developed by including a wide range of experts from different institutions for the social accountability of medical schools in Turkey. Developing recommendations in a local context will enhance the conceptualization of the recommendations of social accountability in the medical schools. As an accreditation body embedding the principles in the national standards will have a further impact on this process.

Keywords:

• Social accountability
• medical school
• Delphi study
• recommendation
• Turkey

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all the experts who have participated in the first and second stages of this study, the TEPDAD members, the Deans’ Council of Medical Schools and also Charles M.D. and Danielle Blouin M.D. for reviewing the study report and their recommendations.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Notes on contributors

Iskender Sayek, MD, FACS, Emeritus Professor of Surgery, Hacettepe University School of Medicine President and Member of Social Accountability Working Group TEPDAD*, [email protected].

Sevgi Turan, PhD, Professor, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, Member of Social Accountability Working Group TEPDAD*, [email protected].

A. Hilal Batı, MD, PhD, AssociateProfessor, Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, Member of Social Accountability Working Group TEPDAD*, [email protected].

Meral Demirören, MD, PhD, AssociateProfessor, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, Member of Social Accountability Working Group TEPDAD*, [email protected].

Zeynep Baykan, MD, Professor, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, Member of Social Accountability Working Group TEPDAD*, [email protected].

*Association for Accreditation and Evaluation of Medical Education Programs- Turkey

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Association for Accreditation and Evaluation of Medical Education Program (TEPDAD)