Exchange and Retention Practices of Tacit Knowledge among Kenyan and Cuban Doctors in Selected Hospitals in Kenya

Abstract

The importance of tacit knowledge exchange and retention among doctors cannot be overstated, as it involves the transfer of skills, experiences, and insights that are often difficult to formalize or document. Tacit knowledge is crucial for clinical decision-making, mentorship, and collaborative learning, fostering innovation, enhancing teamwork, and supporting continuous professional development. Its retention ensures that critical experiential know-how is not lost when senior doctors retire or move on, contributing to long-term capacity building in healthcare systems. In response to the brain‐drain of physicians from developing to developed nations, Kenya and Cuba established a collaboration to revitalize the exchange and retention of tacit knowledge between their medical professionals. This study aimed to investigate exchange and retention of tacit knowledge among Kenyan and Cuban doctors in selected hospitals while examining the tools used for exchange and retention; Employing a qualitative case-study design with snowball sampling, in‐depth interviews captured the contextual factors, behaviours, and interactions shaping knowledge practices. Findings revealed that face-to-face communication, storytelling, and mentorship were the most utilized tools, whereas technological platforms like intranets and social media were less leveraged. By highlighting best practices and challenges, this study offers actionable insights to inform policies and strengthen international medical collaborations for sustainable healthcare capacity building.