Characteristics of International Rotations for Undergraduate Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National Study

Elizabeth Sopdie,1 Shailendra Prasad2 1Rural and Metropolitan Physician Associate Programs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 2Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USACorrespondence: Elizabeth Sopdie, Rural and Metropolitan Physic...

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Main Authors: Sopdie E, Prasad S
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2022-12-01
Series:Advances in Medical Education and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/characteristics-of-international-rotations-for-undergraduate-medical-e-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-AMEP
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author Sopdie E
Prasad S
author_facet Sopdie E
Prasad S
author_sort Sopdie E
collection DOAJ
description Elizabeth Sopdie,1 Shailendra Prasad2 1Rural and Metropolitan Physician Associate Programs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 2Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USACorrespondence: Elizabeth Sopdie, Rural and Metropolitan Physician Associate Programs, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 293, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA, Tel +1 612-625-1582, Email esopdie@umn.eduObjective: Medical education is criticized that it does not prepare students to serve in an increasingly globalized society. Evidence that global educational experiences can alleviate these concerns have contributed to the rise in international medical education experiences. This study explores surrounding characteristics and institutional support for international rotations across medical schools in the US.Methods: The authors conducted a sequential mixed methods exploratory national survey of international rotation coordinators at 185 US medical schools and 15 semi-structured interviews in fall 2018. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitative data were coded and analyzed using interpretive description to identify themes across data.Results: There were 57 responses to the survey for an overall response rate of 31%, with 77% percent of respondents (n = 44) indicating that their medical school offered international rotations. Fifteen individuals representing 13 medical schools were identified as interviewees for the second stage of the study. International rotation coordinators described components of international rotations, including partnerships with host communities, use of third-party organizations, and supporting administrative and academic structures.Conclusion: Although international rotations are common in medical education, they are not positioned as core academic programming within medical schools. This leads to challenges in planning, implementation, and evaluation, and immense variation in rotation components across medical programs. Future research should explore best practices for pre-departure preparation, post-travel debriefing, and evaluation of student activity as well as impact on the host site. Additional research should include exploration of unique benefits of international versus domestic sites, and aspects of sustainable partnerships between medical schools and host communities.Keywords: international rotation, global health education, medical education, US medical education, global rotation
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spelling doaj.art-137ec78c69334240befbba9d09c59dcf2022-12-22T04:41:47ZengDove Medical PressAdvances in Medical Education and Practice1179-72582022-12-01Volume 131475148880325Characteristics of International Rotations for Undergraduate Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National StudySopdie EPrasad SElizabeth Sopdie,1 Shailendra Prasad2 1Rural and Metropolitan Physician Associate Programs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 2Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USACorrespondence: Elizabeth Sopdie, Rural and Metropolitan Physician Associate Programs, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 293, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA, Tel +1 612-625-1582, Email esopdie@umn.eduObjective: Medical education is criticized that it does not prepare students to serve in an increasingly globalized society. Evidence that global educational experiences can alleviate these concerns have contributed to the rise in international medical education experiences. This study explores surrounding characteristics and institutional support for international rotations across medical schools in the US.Methods: The authors conducted a sequential mixed methods exploratory national survey of international rotation coordinators at 185 US medical schools and 15 semi-structured interviews in fall 2018. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitative data were coded and analyzed using interpretive description to identify themes across data.Results: There were 57 responses to the survey for an overall response rate of 31%, with 77% percent of respondents (n = 44) indicating that their medical school offered international rotations. Fifteen individuals representing 13 medical schools were identified as interviewees for the second stage of the study. International rotation coordinators described components of international rotations, including partnerships with host communities, use of third-party organizations, and supporting administrative and academic structures.Conclusion: Although international rotations are common in medical education, they are not positioned as core academic programming within medical schools. This leads to challenges in planning, implementation, and evaluation, and immense variation in rotation components across medical programs. Future research should explore best practices for pre-departure preparation, post-travel debriefing, and evaluation of student activity as well as impact on the host site. Additional research should include exploration of unique benefits of international versus domestic sites, and aspects of sustainable partnerships between medical schools and host communities.Keywords: international rotation, global health education, medical education, US medical education, global rotationhttps://www.dovepress.com/characteristics-of-international-rotations-for-undergraduate-medical-e-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-AMEPinternational rotationglobal health educationmedical educationus medical educationglobal rotation
spellingShingle Sopdie E
Prasad S
Characteristics of International Rotations for Undergraduate Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National Study
Advances in Medical Education and Practice
international rotation
global health education
medical education
us medical education
global rotation
title Characteristics of International Rotations for Undergraduate Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National Study
title_full Characteristics of International Rotations for Undergraduate Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National Study
title_fullStr Characteristics of International Rotations for Undergraduate Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National Study
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of International Rotations for Undergraduate Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National Study
title_short Characteristics of International Rotations for Undergraduate Medical Education at United States Medical Schools: A National Study
title_sort characteristics of international rotations for undergraduate medical education at united states medical schools a national study
topic international rotation
global health education
medical education
us medical education
global rotation
url https://www.dovepress.com/characteristics-of-international-rotations-for-undergraduate-medical-e-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-AMEP
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