A stratified competency based learning programme for practitioners of medical aesthetics in South Africa

𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 In this study, a comprehensive study was carried out by the researcher with the intention of developing a stratified, competency-based learning programme for practitioners of medical aesthetics (MA) in South Africa (SA). MA in the current South African context is characterised by a shortage of literature and a lack of evidence-based guidelines for the knowledge, skills and competencies required by the persons practicing MA in SA. This is in contrast to countries such as Brazil and the United States of America, where MA is far more advanced and where guidelines for the regulation of the MA industry are in place. To the contrary, in SA there is a lack of practice guidelines and regulations applicable to the wide variety of professions involved in the practice of MA. Furthermore, there is an absence of a stratified, competency learning programme for the various professions involved in the practice of MA in SA. Therefore, this research study was carried out in order to develop a stratified, competency-based learning programme for practitioners of MA in SA. In addressing the above challenges, the central research question was: What would a stratified, competency-based learning programme consist of in order to provide learners with the required knowledge, skills and competencies to function as professional medical aestheticians in the South African healthcare environment? For this study, an exploratory mixed-method design that was sequential in nature was followed. This design consisted of a two-phased approach, whereby the qualitative phase (desktop study) was followed by a quantitative phase (questionnaire). A desktop study was first applied as a method for collecting qualitative data to highlight the knowledge, skills and competencies involved in the practice of MA in SA. This assisted in providing the relevant literature and components of programme for MA practitioners. The desktop study also assisted to place MA in context and understand its complexities in a South African context. The desktop study was then followed by the questionnaire (quantitative) which was used as another method of gathering data relating to the building of theory on stratified knowledge, skills and competencies of MA practitioners in SA. The questionnaires were distributed to stakeholders involved within the MA fraternity, in order to gain a clear view of the topic under study. The study resulted in a stratified, competency-based learning programme for medical aesthetics in South Africa. It became clear that to facilitate MA a short-learning programme would be suitable. The study meets the need for educational competence and regulation regarding the practice and implementation of MA in SA. The researcher believes the learning programme that was developed could serve as a source of inspiration to the education system as far as MA is concerned in the South African context; by doing so, the study may serve to provide encouragement for the regulation and professionalisation of MA in SA. This can be achieved through the expansion of education and training for MA, which has the potential to translate into an improvement of the quality of services rendered to patients. The results of this study indicate that there are very few mechanisms for regulating the practice of MA in SA, which cements the need for and importance of SA having both a stratified, competency-based learning programme for MA, and more robust regulatory mechanisms. Having completed the study, the researcher made a number of recommendations, the major one being that a pre-test/pilot of the proposed stratified competency-based learning programme be done, as it may identify issues related to the implementation process – this was not the main focus of this study. ___________________________________________________________________