Dr Dereck N Maseka, Prof Gboyega A Ogunbanjo
This is a qualitative study that was conducted in early 2000, on the first batch of community service doctors at Shongwe hospital in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The purpose of the study was to try and understand what the community service doctors' perceptions were and how they experienced compulsory community service. These would help to identify areas of need and areas of success in the implementation of the program. Six doctors out of a study population of seven were interviewed using free attitude interview technique to gather information concerning their perceptions and experiences of compulsory community service at Shongwe. Their audiotaped interviews were transcribed and the transcripts analyzed to produce general ideas and then themes. These were taken back to the respondents for discussion and validation. The results showed that most of the respondents agreed with the idea of compulsory community service but they were not happy with the way it was implemented. Their negative experiences were remoteness of the place, lack of social amenities, poor administration, poor academic support and poor referral system. Their positive experiences were: the richness of the area in terms of disease profile and pathologies, the almost unlimited amount of experience and practical skills acquired, the growth and confidence rising from being given responsibility to make patient management decisions. Despite negative experiences, the entire experience of community service of all the doctors has been summed up as having been 'a worthwhile experience'.