Medical Student Participation in Community-based Experiential Learning: Reflections From First Exposure to Making the Diagnosis

Background: Fifth-year medical students from the University of Pretoria participated in a four-week rotation in the primary care clinics of a large metropolitan centre. An academic service-learning (ASL) approach was introduced into this rotation to improve the integration of theoretical learning and clinical practice through relevant community service and structured reflection.Methods: Students wrote semi-structured reflective journals as a means to gaining greater insight into their learning experiences. These reflections were analysed qualitatively with a view to improving the community-based curriculum.Results: Four major themes were identified: expectations and the reality of primary care; service and learning; becoming a doctor; and making a difference.Conclusion: While students gained a deeper insight into their development as clinicians; using an ASL approach also assisted the faculty in making an informed educational diagnosis of the curriculum

Recherche medicale en Afrique Subsaharienne:ses contraintes et ses potentialites

Un nombre; non exhaustif; de constats sur la situation actuelle de la recherche medicale en Afrique subsaharienne est rapporte ; la prise en compte de ces constats pourrait en permettre un meilleur developpement. Des reflexions concernant l'organisation de la recherche; ses financements; la necessaire sensibilisation des decideurs; le statut et le role du chercheur; ainsi que la structuration de la recherche; permettent de mieux cerner certains des freins actuels. Des suggestions sont formulees ; chacune d'entre elles doit etre adaptee au contexte de chaque pays. Il appartient aux seuls chercheurs du Sud de prendre les decisions adequates et de les developper en partenariat etroit et egalitaire avec d'autres chercheurs. Parmi les suggestions; citons : la potentialisation des moyens par le developpement de reels Reseaux; regionaux et internationaux; de chercheurs; la creation; au Nord; de postes virtuels d'Attaches de Recherche a titre Etranger; la publication d'une ou deux revues medicales africaines de haut niveau; et le developpement de la banque de donnees africaines