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Maximising learning outcomes for students undertaking international health electives. Lindy McAllister PhD Di Eley PhD Fiona Hawthorne PhD Presentation at SOM T&L Conference November 2010. Overview.
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Maximising learning outcomes for students undertaking international health electives. Lindy McAllister PhD Di Eley PhD Fiona Hawthorne PhD Presentation at SOM T&L Conference November 2010
Overview • Make a case for why learning outcomes of International Health Electives (IHEs) need to be ‘examined’ • Offer some ways forward on how we might improve the outcomes of IHEs for all stakeholders
International health electives • For the purposes of this talk I focus on placements which students elect to undertake outside the normal educational context • IHEs in non-English speaking environments • Often in emerging economies • For our context: • 4 week placements in year 1 • 8 week placements later in the program
Traditionally, internationalisation of the medical curriculum relied on student mobility • IHEs are enjoyed by students – so much so that IHEs are sometimes referred to as medical tourism Dowell, J., & Merrylees, N. (2009). Medical Education, 43, 121-126. • Students report IHEs contribute to their knowledge and skill • BUT……
Are the outcomes of this learning (knowledge and skills) greater than could have been achieved ‘at home’? • What other ‘value-adding’ has been achieved from the IHE? • Does the benefit • To student • Host site • Staff at host site • Patients at host site • “The profession” • Outweigh the costs? • To student • Organising site e.g., admin time • Host site and staff
There is insufficient evidence of benefits and effectiveness of IHEs Edwards et al., 2004, Medical Education, 38(7), 688 – 690. • Learning outcomes are variable because of • lack of structure and preparation Izadnegahadar, R., et al. (2008). Academic Medicine, 83, 2, 192-197. • lack of learning support during IHE • lack of opportunities for reflection and consolidation of learning on return home Eckhert, N. L. (2006). Annals of Family Medicine, 4, Supp 1, S38-39. • Moral and ethical considerationsDowell, J., & Merrylees, N. (2009). Medical Education, 43, 121-126. • Benefits to host sites being questionedMiranda, J., et al. (2005). Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases, 3, 133-141. • Risks are unexplored, perhaps unrecognised, often unmanaged Petrosoniak, A., et al. (2010). Medical Education, 44, 683-690.
So, in a climate of financial belt-tightening and risk management, we need to be able to make a better argument for the unique and strong learning outcomes for IHEs • We need to maximise the learning opportunities of IHEs • Through better preparation • Learning support during placement • On return • And utilise the untapped possibilities for learning • Global health • Intercultural communication • Interprofessional education • Higher order cognitive skills • Higher order personal and interpersonal skills
Some strategies for maximising LOs in IHEs • Preparation • Global health content • UNMDG • Research the health system, health issues, education & welfare systems, literacy levels etc of host country • Module on intercultural competence/communication • Principles of culture general vs culture specific • Prior contact with hosts • Learning plan with measureable goals • In country learning support • Virtual input from staff and peers eg., via online forums, skype • Self-directed learning that links experience to goals of Lg plan • Reflective activities eg., inter- cultural communication failures • Return home • Debriefing • Write up of Lg plan outcomes • Critical incident report on significant learning experience • Assignment e.g., resource for host site, webpage etc • Presentations
