Abstract
BackgroundMedical students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg have the opportunity to do electives at the end of the first and third years of a four-year graduate-entry medical programme. Upon their return they are required to write a short portfolio report. Over the period 2005 to 2011, 402 students chose to do rural electives.Aim and settingTo understand the value of rural electives from the perspective of medical students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits, as derived from their assessment reports.MethodsA review was conducted of 402 elective reports. Common themes were identified through repeated reading of the reports, and then content analysis was undertaken using these themes.ResultsMajor themes identified were the reasons for choosing a rural facility for the elective, including going to a home community; benefits of the elective, especially in terms of clinical skills and personal growth; relationship issues; the multiple roles of the rural doctor, who is often a role model working in difficult conditions; and the challenges of rural electives.ConclusionThe electives were overwhelmingly positive and affirming experiences for students, who developed clinical skills and also learnt about both themselves and their chosen career.
Highlights
Exposure of undergraduate medical students to rural health care during their training is recognised to be an essential strategy in the eventual recruitment of doctors to rural areas.[1,2,3] Various models exist for this exposure, which include both compulsory and voluntary placements in rural health facilities and practices
Two elective periods are included in the programme: the first is a twoweek period at the end of the first graduate-entry medical programme (GEMP) year, which may be undertaken anywhere in Southern Africa, whilst the second is a four-week exposure at the end of GEMP third year, which may be undertaken anywhere in the world
Whilst it is important continually to review the value of electives, it is clear that students completing rural electives at Wits are benefitting greatly from the experience
Summary
Exposure of undergraduate medical students to rural health care during their training is recognised to be an essential strategy in the eventual recruitment of doctors to rural areas.[1,2,3] Various models exist for this exposure, which include both compulsory and voluntary placements in rural health facilities and practices. The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg introduced a new medical curriculum in 2003, in the form of a four-year graduate-entry medical programme (GEMP). Medical students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg have the opportunity to do electives at the end of the first and third years of a four-year graduate-entry medical programme. Upon their return they are required to write a short portfolio report. Over the period 2005 to 2011, 402 students chose to do rural electives
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