Abstract
BackgroundIn international health experiences, learners are exposed to different culturally-based patient care models. Little is known about student perceptions of patient-provider interactions when they travel from low-to high-resource settings. The purpose of this study was to explore these reflections among a subset of Ghanaian medical students who participated in clinical rotations at the University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS).MethodsIn-depth, semi-structured interviews lasting 60–90 min were conducted with 15 individuals who had participated in 3-to 4-week clinical rotations at UMMS between January 2008 and December 2011. Interviews were conducted from March to August 2012 and transcribed verbatim, then independently coded by three investigators. Investigators compared open codes and reached a consensus regarding major themes.ResultsParticipating Ghanaian medical students reported that their perspectives of the patient-provider relationship were significantly affected by participation in a UMMS rotation. Major thematic areas included: (1) observations of patient care during the UMMS rotation, including patient comfort and privacy, physician behavior toward patients, and patient behavior; (2) reflections on the role of humanism and respect within patient care; (3) barriers to respectful care; and (4) transformation of student behaviors and attitudes. Students also reported integrating more patient-centered care into their own medical practice upon return to GhanaDiscussionParticipation in a US-based clinical rotation has the potential to introduce medical students from resource-limited settings to a different paradigm of patient-provider interactions, which may impact their future behavior and perspectives regarding patient care in their home countries.ConclusionsStudents from under-resourced settings can derive tremendous value from participation in clinical electives in more affluent settings, namely through exposure to a different type of medical care.
Highlights
IntroductionLearners are exposed to different culturally-based patient care models
In international health experiences, learners are exposed to different culturally-based patient care models
Setting A pathway has been available since 2007 for Ghanaian medical students to participate in a 3-to 4-week clinical elective a University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS), usually during their second clinical year
Summary
Learners are exposed to different culturally-based patient care models. Little is known about student perceptions of patient-provider interactions when they travel from low-to high-resource settings. Studies seeking to ascertain the value and impact of such experiences have generally not captured the perspectives of medical trainees from under-resourced settings who partake in electives in more affluent regions [6]. The encounters from which many of these learning outcomes are derived generally involve learner observation of the interactions between patients and providers in foreign contexts. The nature of this relationship is often affected by the culture of both the patient and provider [7,8,9]. Little is known about how observations of the former could impact a medical trainee from the latter context
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