CONTEXT: An increasing number of medical students are engaging in international medical electives, the majority of which involve travel from northern, higher-income countries to southern, lower-income countries. Existing research has identified benefits to students participating in these experiences. However, reports on the impacts on host communities are largely absent from the literature. OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to identify host country perspectives on international medical electives. METHODS: Questionnaires were delivered to a convenience sample of supervisors hosting international elective students (n = 39) from a Canadian medical school. Responses represented 22 countries. Conventional content analysis of the qualitative data was used to identify themes in host supervisor perspectives on the impact of international medical electives. RESULTS: Host country supervisors identified that in addition to the benefits realised by the elective students, supervisors and their institutions also benefited from hosting Canadian students. Although some host supervisors denied the occurrence of any harm, others expressed concern that international elective students may negatively impact the local community in terms of resource use and patient care. Host country supervisors also identified potential harms to travelling students including health risks and emotional distress. Ideas for improving international electives were identified and were largely centred around increasing the bidirectional flow of students by establishing formal partnerships between institutions. CONCLUSIONS: This research provides important insights into the impacts of international medical student electives from the perspective of host country supervisors. This research may be a starting point for further research and the establishment of meaningful partnerships that incorporate the self-identified needs of receiving institutions, especially those in lower-income settings.
CONTEXT: An increasing number of medical students are engaging in international medical electives, the majority of which involve travel from northern, higher-income countries to southern, lower-income countries. Existing research has identified benefits to students participating in these experiences. However, reports on the impacts on host communities are largely absent from the literature. OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to identify host country perspectives on international medical electives. METHODS: Questionnaires were delivered to a convenience sample of supervisors hosting international elective students (n = 39) from a Canadian medical school. Responses represented 22 countries. Conventional content analysis of the qualitative data was used to identify themes in host supervisor perspectives on the impact of international medical electives. RESULTS: Host country supervisors identified that in addition to the benefits realised by the elective students, supervisors and their institutions also benefited from hosting Canadian students. Although some host supervisors denied the occurrence of any harm, others expressed concern that international elective students may negatively impact the local community in terms of resource use and patient care. Host country supervisors also identified potential harms to travelling students including health risks and emotional distress. Ideas for improving international electives were identified and were largely centred around increasing the bidirectional flow of students by establishing formal partnerships between institutions. CONCLUSIONS: This research provides important insights into the impacts of international medical student electives from the perspective of host country supervisors. This research may be a starting point for further research and the establishment of meaningful partnerships that incorporate the self-identified needs of receiving institutions, especially those in lower-income settings.
Authors: Gitanjli Arora; Christiana Russ; Maneesh Batra; Sabrina M Butteris; Jennifer Watts; Michael B Pitt Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Chelsea E Modlin; Andrea C Vilorio; Benjamin Stoff; Dawn L Comeau; Tewodros H Gebremariam; Miliard Derbew; Henry M Blumberg; Carlos Del Rio; Russell R Kempker Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2021-11-01 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Lisa Umphrey; George Paasi; Daniel Olson; Peter Olupot-Olupot; William Windsor; Grace Abongo; Jessica Evert; Heather Haq; Elizabeth M Keating; Suet Kam Lam; Megan S McHenry; Carolyne Ndila; Charles Nwobu; Amy Rule; Reena P Tam Journal: Glob Health Res Policy Date: 2022-04-28
Authors: Elizabeth M Keating; Heather Haq; Chris A Rees; Padma Swamy; Teri L Turner; Stephanie Marton; Jill Sanders; Edith Q Mohapi; Peter N Kazembe; Gordon E Schutze Journal: Ann Glob Health Date: 2019-03-15 Impact factor: 2.462
Authors: Maaike Flinkenflögel; Gboyega Ogunbanjo; Vincent Kalumire Cubaka; Jan De Maeseneer Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2015-08-01 Impact factor: 2.463