Community engagement by medical students during longitudinal rural clinical rotations
Ms Whitney Downes, Monash University, Australia*
Mr Evan O’Neill, Monash University, Australia*
Ms Penelope Brussen, Monash University, Australia
Mr Tim Wittick, Monash University, Australia
Mr David Fry, Monash University, Australia
Dr David Campbell, Monash University, Australia
Dr Angelo D’Amore, Monash University, Australia
The fourth year undergraduate medical program at Monash University’s East Gippsland Regional Clinical School is an integrated community-based, year-long, clinical placement. As part of their placement, students are encouraged to participate in community engagement.
In 2009, the fourth year medical student cohort voluntarily conducted six sessions on health education at the local specialist school. The specialist school students, to whom this program was delivered, were males ranging from 14 -18 years of age, with behavioural and learning disabilities.
The evaluation objectives included assessing the content, format and sequence of topics covered by the program; how the program impacted on the medical students and the specialist school; and the potential for future engagement by medical students in the East Gippsland Specialist School.
The program was evaluated through focus groups with specialist school teachers and medical students. The interviews were analysed via thematic analysis and triangulation was achieved by analysis being conducted by multiple authors.
The evaluation showed that the medical students consider themselves more likely to be involved in future community engagement as a result of this program and they saw a clear benefit to their future professional practise as doctors. Interestingly, both specialist school students and teachers demonstrated a change in their knowledge and attitudes towards the health topics covered. In addition, the medical students were perceived as role models for the specialist school students. Importantly, this study indentified the requirements for successful involvement by medical students in community engagement during longitudinal clinical placements.
The evaluation clearly identified benefits for all involved in the program along with the requirements for successful community engagement. There is scope for future programs of this nature for medical students in East Gippsland.
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