The Impact of Short-Term Medical Missions on Health Care Sustainability in Low-Income and Developing Communities: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Short‐term surgical missions (STSMs) provide an opportunity for the global health care community to address the surgical needs of developing communities worldwide. Conditions that require a one‐time intervention, such as cleft lip and palate, clearly demonstrate the positive impact these short‐term missions can have on the individual patient. However, the long‐term impact on the local health care system, economy, and community is less clear. Many in the global health care community believe that STSMs should seek to have a long‐term impact by establishing sustainable health care programs. Information regarding the impact of STSMs is scarce, however, due to limited regulation, research, and data from short‐term missions. This study investigates how short‐term international missions impact health care sustainability in low‐income and developing communities. This study uses a systematic review to investigate the impact of STSMs on health care sustainability. Additional outcomes included education and skills‐transfer, cost‐effectiveness, and cultural awareness. 15 articles were included in the study. The following outcomes were found: sustainability in 9 studies, education and skills‐transfer in 5, cost‐effectiveness in 4, and cultural awareness in 3. STSMs can successfully establish sustainable programs abroad. Factors that contribute to this success include education and training of host providers, cost‐effective services, and cultural awareness. Understanding the complex dynamic between STSMs and developing communities is key to developing effective and sustainable programs that offer long‐term benefits to those communities.