ABSTRACT
Introduction: Clinical Health Electives are an important part of academic curriculum in medical universities throughout the world. Electives are useful in developing personal and professional growth among students. Hence understanding the importance of electives among medical undergraduates on their academic life is important.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional based study was conducted among medical undergraduates in Karachi, Pakistan. A total number of 300 students from 3rd, 4thand 5thyear of MBBS were taken as a sample. Consent was taken from the participants and questionnaire was filled from everyone. Study population was selected who did at least one clinical elective in their whole academic period.Results: According to our analysed results, undergraduate students from both private and public sector medical institutes perceived clinical electives as an advantage to themselves. Majority of the students saw their clinical and academic performances to be on a higher level. This shows tha opting for electives regardless of its type (local or international) have proven to be fruitful for the undergraduates’ personal growth and academic career, allowing more scope for understudies to practice and enhance their skills they have only done a limited number of times, which inevitably leads to a steep learning curve.Conclusion: There was a positive influence of clinical electives observed among the students. Overall the academic and clinical performance of theundergraduates enhanced by opting clinical electives and has positive impact on them
ABSTRACT
Health disparity is an emerging issue in our society. It occurs in connection with an aging population, uneven distribution of health sectors or the collapse of medical care systems in rural communities. Accordingly, future health professionals should learn more about social determinants of health (SDH). Mie University Faculty of Medicine has conducted international health electives in Asian and African countries and education about community-based health profession all over the Mie prefecture. Moreover, a lecture entitled “Global Health and Community Medicine” was launched based on the concept that both topics share common aspects of SDH. In this article, I will report educational programs at Mie University, that provide medical students with opportunities to learn SDH.
ABSTRACT
1） University of Tsukuba, School of medicine reformed curriculum for undergraduate medical education in 2004 and then, introduced Clinical Clerkship（CC） Program in a period between September of the 4th year to June of the 6th year. CC program is consists of 1） Floor Unit CC （7 units, 8wks each）, 2） Advanced CC （2 clinical departments, 4wks each）, 3） CC in the community （8wks） and 4） Electives （6wks） during 78 weeks in total.<br>2） The composition of the Floor Unit consisted if from 4 to 5 clinical departments that locate in the same ward or floor can encourage students to be familiar with the ward and practice thoroughly.<br>3） Until now, some program evaluation including students’ feedback and the assessment of students’ clinical competency have indicated that this new CC program indicate positive effects.
ABSTRACT
Radical changes were made last year in the educational program of liberal arts at Juntendo University School of Medicine. The number of required courses was decreased, and students were given more freedom to choose electives. A survey at the end of the first semester evaluating the reforms showed great satisfaction on both sides: students were highly motivated to study, and the teachers were ready to answer their needs.