Influence of distributed medical education on pre-clerkship elective use and utility

Abstract

Purpose To explore differences in pre-clerkship elective (PCE) use and utility between main and regional campuses at McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, in four main areas: ease of access to PCEs, volume and breadth of PCEs, helpfulness in choosing future specialties, and utility for clerkship preparation. Methods An anonymous and voluntary survey was distributed in early 2020 to McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine’s medical students across all three years of study. Data were analyzed for any significant differences between main and regional campuses, and post-hoc sensitivity analyses were used to account for non-response and self-selection bias. Results Regional campus students felt significantly less frustration around PCE availability (2.88 vs 4.16, p<0.001, scale 1(least) – 5(most)) and significantly greater ease of PCE scheduling than students at the main campus (3.50 vs 2.24, p<0.001, scale 1(least) – 5(most)). Regional campus students explored significantly fewer specialties (5.19 vs 6.19, p = 0.049) and there was no significant difference in the total number of PCE hours undertaken, nor hours spent with a single specialty. Overall, students in both campuses endorsed pressure to take PCEs and mixed benefits of PCEs for clerkship preparation. Students also found PCEs to be an important part of choosing a specialty independent of campus. Conclusion Regional medical campuses at McMaster University offer generally equal opportunities for PCE volume and breadth as main campuses, but with significantly lower barriers and frustrations around scheduling and availabilities. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest to report.