Evaluating a Novel Multidisciplinary Preceptorship Model for Healthcare Workers in Selected Health Facilities in Zambia

Background Health professions education is essential for preparing competent healthcare professionals. In Zambia, there is a need to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical applications in clinical settings. Preceptorship programs have emerged as a promising solution, providing structured, supervised clinical training for learners or newly qualified practitioners. The University of Zambia (UNZA) and SolidarMed, under the "Advancing Vocational Clinical Education in Zambia" (ACEZ) project, introduced multidisciplinary preceptorship (MDP) training in January 2025. This was to build the capacity of healthcare professionals at four Vocational Centres of Excellence (VCEs) across three provincial hospitals and one general hospital. This evaluation assessed preceptors' competencies following the establishment of VCEs and preceptorship training. Methods The MDP training targeted 141 healthcare workers, cutting across professions. A 10-day standardised, competency-based workshop was conducted between January and August 2025. Pre- and post-training assessments were performed using a 50-item multiple-choice questionnaire to assess participants' change in knowledge and competency. Statistical analysis involved paired t-tests and two-way ANOVA to assess the change in scores after preceptorship training. Results Out of 141 healthcare workers, 131 participated in the pre-test and 130 in the post-test. The overall mean score increased significantly from 73.9% (SD = 9.9%) to 85.2% (SD = 7.5%) post-training (p < 0.001). The proportion of participants with competency (≥75% score) increased from 52.7% to 92.3%, with gains observed across all cadres. The percentage increase in competency was similar for males and females and among the different healthcare cadres, but different for health facilities. Conclusion We successfully piloted multidisciplinary preceptor training, which resulted in a significant increase in knowledge and competency. The training enhanced participants' educational skills, bridging gaps in clinical education and strengthening the preceptorship framework. Future training should target nationwide preceptorship training among healthcare providers to improve clinical skills.