Enablers and Barriers of a Cross-Cultural Geriatric Education Distance Training Programme: The Singapore-Uganda Experience

​Background
By 2050, 80% of the world's older population will reside in developing countries. There is a need for culturally appropriate training programs to increase awareness of eldercare issues, promote knowledge of how to better allocate resources to geriatric services, and promulgate elder-friendly policies. A monthly distance geriatric education programme between a public hospital in Singapore and health institute in Uganda was implemented. This study explored the enablers and barriers to the delivery of culturally appropriate geriatric education programmes via a videoconferencing platform.

Methods
We conducted 12 in-depth interviews with six teachers from Singapore and six learners from Uganda. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using an inductive thematic approach to analysis with the aid of the NVivo software.

Results
Enablers included iner-personal real-time interactions between teachers and learners wheras misaligned perceptions of cross-cultural differences between Singaporean teachers and Ugandan learners were a barrier. Rapport building, teacher motivation and institutional support were perceived to contribute to the programme's sustainability. Overall, Ugandan learners perceived that the training improved knowledge, skills,attitude and practice of geriatric care. Participants suggested that future initiatives consider aligning cross-cultural perceptions between partners, conducting a training needs analysis, exploring complementary modes of information dissemination, and alloting time for more interaction, thereby reinforcing mutual sharing. Adequate publicity and appropriate incentivisation may also better sustian the programme.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that cross-cultural training via a videoconferencing platform was feasible. Our results inform planners of future distance educational programmes of how to improve standards of cross-cultural competency and forge promising international partnerships.

SOURCE:
Geriatrics (Basel)

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics5040061

AUTHOR(S):
Ha NHL, Chua XY, Musimenta S, Akankwasa E, Pussaypibul N, Toh HJ, Ginting ML, Samarasekera DD, Tam WJ, Yap PLK, Low JAYH