Abstract:
Aims i) To identify the key learning outcomes for medical student elective experiences in a Low-Middle Income Country (LMIC) compared to a High Income Country (HIC) and ii) To provide students and medical curriculum planners with insights to guide future preparation for overseas electives and to promote learning in global health Methods A sample of 20 LMIC and 20 HIC elective reports were randomly selected from a total sample of 271. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the data and to identify emerging themes consistent with the study aims. Results Both groups gained from their experiences in terms of exposure to alternative practice, culture and language. Students who visited LMIC were witness to the realities of practicing medicine in resource constrained environments; 80% of students reported on the impact of scarce resources on medical practice and the importance of wider social and cultural determinants on health. Alternatively, students who visited HIC reported exposure to technologically advanced clinical practice, which was both a motivator and an outcome of their experience. Conclusion Both LMIC and HIC elective students gained substantial experience from this episode n their medical training. The motivations and expectations that underpinned the decision of what country to visit was seldom disappointing and reflect a significant cross-roads in the future of medicine; the need to be prudent with resources and focus on global health equity, and the reality of a burgeoning advanced biotechnology era within medicine. Both of these experiences are necessary to gain an understanding of global health.
