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...