Abstract:
BACKGROUND : A clinical associate (ClinA) is a mid-level health professional who may only
practise under the supervision of a medical doctor. By extension, medical students need to be
prepared for this responsibility. This study explored whether final-year medical students at
one university were aware of this supervisory role, felt prepared and were knowledgeable
about the ClinAs’ scope of practice.
METHODS : A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. The population included all
final-year medical students who had completed their District Health and Community
Obstetrics rotations (March to November 2017). After an end-of-rotation session, 151 students
were given questionnaires to complete. A list of 20 treatments or procedures was extracted
from the ClinAs’ gazetted scope of practice for a ‘knowledge test’. Data were analysed with
Stata and Microsoft Excel. Ethical permission was granted.
RESULTS : The response rate was 77.4% (n/N = 117/151). The majority of participants (76.1%,
n = 86) had worked with a qualified or student ClinA before and had a generally positive
impression (81.4%; n = 70). Almost half (47.8%; n = 56) thought that the ClinAs’ scope of work
was similar to registered nurses rather than a doctor’s (38.2%; n = 44). Most were unaware that
they would be required to supervise ClinAs once qualified (65.8%; n = 77). On average,
participants identified 12 out of 20 treatments or procedures that a ClinA could perform.
CONCLUSION : Despite having worked with ClinAs, participants appeared largely unaware
of their future legal obligation of supervision. Adequate clinical supervision is based on
the knowledge of the scope of practice, which was variable. Formal training on the
scope of the work of ClinAs is needed to prepare future doctors for their supervisory
role. Medical schools have an obligation to adequately prepare their students in this regard as part of their transformative education with elements of interprofessional
education.