International Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Training in France: Experiences of African Physicians.

Authors

Tendart D Viannel, Mounguengui Hartwig, Ammari Maryeme

Published in

Cureus. Volume 18. Issue 6. Pages e110682. Epub Jun 11, 2026.

Abstract

Objective To explore the self-reported clinical, educational, technical, and scientific experiences of African physicians undertaking Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) training in France. Design This study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional multicenter study. Subjects The subjects included African physicians who completed a PRM clinical training placement in France between 2016 and 2024. Methods An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed between February and April 2025. Collected data included clinical activities, exposure to interventional procedures, participation in educational and scientific activities, overall satisfaction, and perceived areas for improvement. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results Twenty-five physicians responded to the survey. Clinical exposure was heterogeneous and predominantly focused on neurorehabilitation. Limited exposure was reported in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, complex prosthetics and orthotics, and amputee rehabilitation. Exposure to interventional procedures varied across training sites. Botulinum toxin injections and corticosteroid injections were the most frequently reported procedures, whereas more specialized interventions remained uncommon. Participation in educational activities was generally satisfactory, while involvement in research activities remained limited. Overall satisfaction with the training experience was high. Conclusion PRM training placements in France provide a valuable educational experience for African physicians. However, significant heterogeneity in clinical and technical exposure highlights the need for improved educational structuring and harmonization of training pathways. These findings support the establishment of minimum practical and educational objectives for international PRM training programs.

PMID:
42437211
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Jul 2026.

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