Questions

Anyone out there who is actually following this journal will have noticed the name change to Journal Number Three. "Medical Missions- The Thesis" might have been a descriptive title but it was very dry and to my mind, quite boring. The title "Journal Number Three" comes from my first post, and although it doesn't describe the content as clearly I think it shows a little more of my intent for this site. Besides which, I think the content speaks for itself!

Over the past couple of weeks I've been trying to get into some reading for this thesis. This has mostly consisted of organising the books I have and doing some slightly off-the-track internet searching. However today I sat down and read through a thesis sent to me by an online contact, which appeared to cover the same topic as I have chosen. However there are significant differences in approach and methodology and I think it will be a great starting point for my own research.

From this reading several questions seem to be emerging which will either help direct my research... or possibly take me right off course. But given this is the beginning of the project and I'm always one who likes to start with the big picture, I'm writing them all down. Here are some of the issues currently on my mind...

What is the role of medical mission teams in regards to the local health care providers? And what are the responsibilities? Who makes the decisions? Is there- should there- be any integration? There seems to be little research on medical missions, and even less on their role in regards to the local health care scene. But I think this relationship is pivotal and it intrigues me.

What paradigm of care or model of practise do these teams use? Initial indications are most operate from a western medical model. How appropriate is this? What paradigm are local health professionals using? How does the paradigm used affect the assessment and evaluation of the success of the mission?

Culture and language are always issues in international healthcare- but I don't think it only affects patient care. How do these differences affect interaction with local health care providers?

Those who have been involved in medical missions will readily testify to the impact it has made on them- "I got so much out of it"- but who really benefits?

So I have a lot to think about. In the meantime however I have one more week of work to endure...

Approved!

I got my ethics approval today. Well, actually I got a letter acknowledging my research is "low risk" and full ethics approval won't be necessary. Which is even better! That's one headache I don't need to worry about now. Except they expect me to get good travel insurance. Which is a good thing. Except I still don't have the money. But I have the enrolment sorted, the prosposal drafted and now the ethics sorted. It's a good start!

Ready to go...

Yesterday I handed in my Ethics application. As it is considered a "low-risk" application it hopefully won't take long to process. I've also completed another scholarship application and left it to be signed by the head of school. My supervisor wrote a beautiful supporting letter.... lets hope this one is the one otherwise I might yet find myself modifying the topic in order to study closer to home (and therefore more cheaply). I have completed a draft of my thesis proposal and have been given a reprieve on completing that... my supervisor leaves in a couple of days for a three week research trip so won't be able to look at it again until she gets back, which will be the first week of the semester and my new life as a full time student.
I finish work in two weeks, then have a week off. I'm going to try and enjoy a slightly more relaxed pace over the next three weeks... but will need to plod on with the proposal as well as getting on with the readings. But I finally feel like this is real. I'm ready for this... ready to go.
Just in case you're interested I've added a link on the left to the Massey University Development Studies website.

Journal Number Three

I have recieved advice from several sources that it is a really good idea to journal while writing a thesis, and I will. But never being one to do things by halves, rather than stick to one, I am experimenting... with three. I have an academic journal, a personal journal, and now journal number three- a web journal.
The idea of this web journal is to take some of the ideas generated in the other two, and share them- with my family and friends around the world, with as yet unknown friends and supporters who may be interested in what I am studying and learning and even with complete strngers who may just happen on this corner of the web- the beauty of the internet!
I'll try to post again soon with more information about the thesis topic itself and the journey up until now, but in the meantime please read the thesis summary information on the left. Please come back to check on this site- I'll try to update it often. And please interact- use the comments tool to gove me some feedback and to add your ideas on the topic. See you soon.