A quantative study on the perception of international medical students and doctors on an emergency medicine elective in Cape Town
Date
2021-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: International health electives are a popular component of medical students and doctors training, as it has unique learning opportunities both professionally and personally. Emergency
medicine has become a growing global speciality, amid opportunities to complete an international
health elective either during registrar training or as a medical student/doctor.
Objective: To determine international medical students and doctors' perceptions of an Emergency
Medicine elective in two South African hospitals within the Cape Town Metropolitan region.
Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was sent to participants that completed the Emergency
medicine elective from 2016 to 2019 at Tygerberg- and Khayelitsha Hospital. Responses were scored
on a 5 point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) for both perceived personal and
professional development, 5 point rating scale for mentorship and a 10 point rating scale for the overall
perception of the elective. Results are presented as percentages or median (25th – 75th percentile).
Results: Of all participants, 104 responded to the survey (18.8%). Participants were mainly from highincome
countries of which the U.K. (20.4%), U.S.A.(17.5%), and Canada(17.5%) formed the larger
part. The median (25th-75th percentile) age of participants was 28 (25-31) years; 50 (48.5%) were
undergraduate students and 43 (41.7%) postgraduate students. Agreement for perceived personal
development was 4.0 (3.67-4.38) at Tygerberg hospital and 4.75 (4.13-5.00) at Khayelitsha hospital.
Agreement for perceived professional development was 3.69 (3.23-4.05) and 4.27(3.87-4.68),
respectively. Overall, participants rated the elective highly and would recommend the elective to future
participants.
Conclusion: An international emergency medicine elective in South Africa were deemed valuable and
resulted in personal and professional development.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
Description
Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Emergency medicine -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa, Medical students -- Attitudes -- South Africa, Physicians -- Attitudes -- South Africa, Universities and colleges -- Elective system -- South Africa, UCTD