Bezuidenhout, J.Du Toit, R. S.Porter, D. C.2017-07-032017-07-032016-12http://hdl.handle.net/11660/6451English: General practitioners have to deal with a variety of conditions, challenges and diseases. Currently there is little known about surgical practice and the surgical skills required to deal with it in rural South Africa. The aim of this study was to acquire an understanding of the current surgical practice of general practitioners in rural areas and identify the essential surgical skills needed for rural South Africa. The purpose of the study was to determine the contents of a Short Learning Programme in Essential Surgical Skills in Rural South Africa. The research consisted of a relevant literature search and document analysis to ascertain the current national and international scope of rural surgery, available programmes and the essential contents and outcomes thereof. Attention was also given to curriculum design, HPCSA guidelines for CPD points, learning tools and situations to acquire surgical skills and the development of short learning programmes. The current GP surgical practice for practitioners in rural areas was evaluated through the use of a Likert-type questionnaire, this was also employed to determine the essential content and outcomes for a short learning programme. The results of the research was applied to design a Short Learning Programme for Essential Surgical Skills in Rural South Africa. It is my recommendation that this programme is rolled out in the second part of 2017 at the University of the Free State. I trust it will contribute to surgical care not only in South Africa, but internationally as well.Afrikaans: Algemene praktisyns in die platteland staan elke dag voor uitdagings in die praktyk ten op sigte van omstandighede en siektes. Huidiglik is daar baie min bekend aangaande die chirurgiese praktyke en nodige vaardighede om dit the hanteer in die Suid-Afrikaanse platteland. Die mikpunt van die studie was om te begryp wat chirurgiese praktyke in die platteland behels, en ook om die noodsaaklike vaardighede wat deur praktisyns in die Suid-Afrikaanse platteland benodig word te identifiseer. Die doelwit van die studie was om die inhoud van ‘n Kort Leerprogram in Essensiële Chirurgiese Vaardighede in die Suid-Afrikaanse Platteland te bepaal. Die navorsing bestaan uit ‘n toepaslike literatuurstudie en dokument ontleding aangaande die huidige nasionale en internasionale omvang van chirurgie in die platteland. Daar is ook aandag gewy aan kurrikulumontwikkeling, beskikbare opleidingsprogramme en die inhoud en uitkomste daarvan. Daar is ook gekyk na HPCSA riglyne ten op sigte van VPO punte, die leerproses, die ontwikkeling van chirurgiese vaardighede en die ontwikkeling van kort leerprogramme. Die huidige algemene praktisyn chirurgiese praktyk in die platteland is geëvalueer deur middel van ‘n Likert-tipe vraelys. Die vraelys is ook gebruik om die essensiële vaardighede en uitkomste vir ‘n kort leerprogram te bepaal. Die resultate van die navorsing is gebruik om ‘n Kort Leerprogram in Essensiele Chirurgiese Vaardighede in die Suid-Afrikaanse Platteland daar te stel. Dit is my aanbeveling dat hierdie program in werking gestel word in die tweede helfte van 2017 by die Universiteit van die Vrystaat. Ek glo dat hierdie program sal nie net in Suid Afrika nie, maar ook internasionaal, ‘n bydrae lewer tot beter chirurgiese diens.enContinued professional developmentEssential surgical skillsGeneral practitionersRural areasLearning programmeThesis (Ph.D. (Health Professions Education))--University of the Free State, 2016ThesisUniversity of the Free State