International medical students' expectations and worries at the beginning of their medical education: a qualitative focus group study.

Daniel Huhn,Florian Junne,Stephan Zipfel,Franziska M Ippen,Wolfgang Herzog,Julia Huber,Christoph Nikendei,Wolfgang Eckart

doi:10.1186/s12909-016-0549-9

Daniel Huhn, Florian Junne + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-016-0549-9

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Abstract

BackgroundThe number of international students has increased substantially within the last decade. Due to cultural barriers, this specific group faces diverse challenges. In comparison to German colleagues, international medical students perform significantly lower in clinical examinations and exceed the average duration of study; they suffer from personal distress as well as insufficient support. Within the present study, their individual perspectives, expectations, hopes and fears were examined.MethodsFour focus groups with first-year international medical students (N = 16) were conducted in October 2013. Each 60- to 90-min discussion was audiotaped, transcribed and analysed using qualitative methods.ResultsInternational medical students go abroad in search of good study-conditions. For the choice of place of study, affordability, social ties as well as an educational system following the achievement principle are decisive factors. While contact with German-students and other international students is seen as beneficial, international medical students are most concerned to encounter problems and social exclusion due to language deficits and intercultural differences.ConclusionsFacilitating the access to university places, the provision of financial aid and, moreover, social support, nurturing cultural integration, would greatly benefit international medical students. Hereby, the establishment of specific medical language courses as well as programs fostering intercultural-relations could prove to be valuable.

Highlights

The number of international students has increased substantially within the last decade
The US, the UK, Australia, Germany and France account for nearly half of them, while the largest numbers of international students come from China, India and South Korea
Main categories and themes resulting from qualitative analysis With regard to the qualitative analysis of the transcripts, 245 relevant single statements of interviewees were identified within the structured focus group discussions

Summary

Introduction

The number of international students has increased substantially within the last decade. Over the last decade the number of students studying in foreign countries has increased by 77 per cent, with a peak of almost 3.7 million people in 2009 [1]. International students have become a highly coveted and increasingly appreciated immigrant group [2]. Several facts about this specific group have been compiled so far: Australia, the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland and New Zealand have the highest percentages of international students among their tertiary enrolments. In a comparison of OECD-countries, health and welfare studies are the fourth most attractive field among international students [1]. Accounting for up to 15 % of all medical students and with more than 2.000 young people starting studies each year, medicine and health care

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