Our dataset includes 30 semi-structured interviews with Somaliland-based participants. They were conducted online in 2020 and involved three groups of participants: 24 medical students, 3 nursing students, and 3 qualified clinicians. Participants studied for MedicineAfrica courses as part of their degree at a local institution in Somaliland.This project aims to explore the role digital health platforms play in improving clinical work and healthcare in developing countries. We focus on MedicineAfrica—a digital health platform that enables UK-based clinicians (tutors) to teach online medical students and clinicians (tutees) based in post-conflict regions with weak health services. We propose a multimethod research study involving interviews with local tutees in Somaliland, where MedicineAfrica has extensive activity and an established user base, and netnography for which MedicineAfrica have granted us access. We aim to (a) explore tutees’ learning experience of the use of MedicineAfrica; (b) assess MedicineAfrica’s wider impact on clinical work, medical knowledge and healthcare delivery in the Somaliland context; and (c) produce actionable recommendations as to how online medical education can help to build capacity in developing countries. The study is of value to a multidisciplinary audience involving social and medical scientists, healthcare providers and platform directors.

Our data collection drew on interviews with Somaliland-based MedicineAfrica participants who studied for a degree at their local University with which MedicineAfrica partnered. We used an adapted version of the interview guide for each of the three groups of participants involved (medical students, nursing students, licensed clinicians). Interviews were semi-structured in nature, they were conducted in English online, and they lasted from 40 to 90 minutes each. Due to the sensitive nature of the collected data, the confidentiality agreement in the participants' consent forms, and inability to request retrospective consent, the interview data from this project cannot be shared publicly.