International Health Electives: defining learning outcomes for a unique experience.
BMC Med Educ
; 23(1): 157, 2023 Mar 15.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2285478
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
An International Health Elective (IHE) can be a unique learning experience for students. However, it has proven difficult to clearly define learning outcomes that capture the complexity of an IHE and are aligned with future professional performance. This study aimed to further define learning outcomes for IHEs in low- to middle-income countries (LMIC) from a student perspective.METHODS:
We conducted a deductive analysis of pre-departure and post-elective reflective reports of fifth-year medical students who participated in an IHE as part of their program. This provided possible learning objectives that were further explored in semi-structured individual interviews with medical students who had recently returned from an IHE.RESULTS:
We analyzed 33 reports of students participating in an IHE from 2017-2019 and held 19 interviews. Thematic analysis revealed 9 themes developing intercultural competence, developing appreciation for differences in health care delivery systems, understanding international health, understanding the global burden of disease, developing a career perspective, developing clinical skills in resource low settings, becoming cost conscious, developing social responsibility and self-actualization.CONCLUSIONS:
We identified 9 learning outcomes that are directly and indirectly related to clinical practice. They add to the on-going discourse on the benefits of IHEs. These outcomes can be further developed by investigating the perspectives of home and host supervisors and educationalists, while taking the local context into account. Follow-up studies can evaluate to what extend these outcomes are achieve during an IHE.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Students, Medical
/
Global Health
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Med Educ
Journal subject:
Education
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12909-023-04124-4
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