From personal to global: Understandings of social accountability from stakeholders at four medical schools

Abstract

Aim: This paper addresses the question of how social accountability is conceptualised by staff, students and community members associated with four medical schools aspiring to be socially accountable in two countries.

Methods: Using a multiple case study approach this research explored how contextual issues have influenced social accountability at four medical schools: two in Australia and two in the Philippines. This paper reports on how research participants understood social accountability. Seventy-five participants were interviewed including staff, students, health sector representatives and community members. Field notes were taken and a documentary analysis was completed.

Results: Overall there were three common understandings. Socially accountable medical education was about meeting workforce, community and health needs. Social accountability was also determined by the nature and content of programs the school implemented or how it operated. Finally, social accountability was deemed a personal responsibility. The broad consensus masked the divergent perspectives people held within each school.

Conclusion: The assumption that social accountability is universally understood could not be confirmed from these data. To strengthen social accountability it is useful to learn from these institutions’ experiences to contribute to the development of the theory and practice of activities within socially accountable medical schools.

Notes on contributors

Dr. ROBYN PRESTON, BA(DevS) (Hons), PGCertDisasRefugHlth, MHSc (HealthProm), PhD, is a Lecturer at the College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.

Prof. SARAH LARKINS, MBBS, BMedSci, MPH&TM, PhD, FRACGP, is an Academic General Practitioner, Associate Dean, Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, and Co-Director Anton Breinl Research Centre for Health Systems Strengthening, James Cook University.

Adjunct Associate Professor JUDY TAYLOR, PhD, is at researching community development with the College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.

Dr. JENNI JUDD, DHSc MPH MEd DipHPE, is an Adjunct Associate Professor-Principal Research Fellow at College of Medicine and Dentistry Division of Tropical Health and Medicine Anton Breinl Research Centre for Health Systems Strengthening James Cook University and an Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology. AHPA Member ACHPER Life Member; Member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Standing Committee; AHPA Editorial Board; Member of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia Member International Network Indigenous Health Promotion Professionals.

Acknowledgements

Authors thank the Training for Health Equity Network (THEnet) Colleagues who were research mentors at three sites. They also thank the participants who invited RP into their workplaces and homes and gave their time and their knowledge to this research.

Declaration of interest: Funding for this project was received from the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA); College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University and the Graduate Research School, James Cook University.

Notes

¹Flinders University, Australia; James Cook University, Australia; The Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Canada; Ateneo de Zamboanga University, The Philippines; The Medical School of Walter Sisulu University, South Africa; University of the Philippines, Leyte; ELAM, Cuba; Gezira University Faculty of Medicine, Sudan; Ghent University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Belgium; Patan Academy of Health Sciences in Nepal and The University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, United States.