Promoting medical competencies through international exchange programs: benefits on communication and effective doctor-patient relationships

Abstract

BackgroundUniversities are increasingly organizing international exchange programs to meet the requirements of growing globalisation in the field of health care. Analyses based on the programs’ fundamental theoretical background are needed to confirm the learning value for participants. This study investigated the extent of sociocultural learning in an exchange program and how sociocultural learning affects the acquisition of domain-specific competencies.MethodsSociocultural learning theories were applied to study the learning effect for German medical students from the LMU Munich, Munich, Germany, of participation in the medical exchange program with Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. First, we performed a qualitative study consisting of interviews with five of the first program participants. The results were used to develop a questionnaire for the subsequent, quantitative study, in which 29 program participants and 23 matched controls performed self-assessments of competencies as defined in the Tuning Project for Health Professionals. The two interrelated studies were combined to answer three different research questions.ResultsThe participants rated their competence significantly higher than the control group in the fields of doctor-patient relationships and communication in a medical context. Participant responses in the two interrelated studies supported the link between the findings and the suggested theoretical background.ConclusionOverall, we found that the exchange program affected the areas of doctor-patient relationships and effective communication in a medical context. Vygotsky’s sociocultural learning theory contributed to explaining the learning mechanisms of the exchange program.

Mobilidade internacional na graduação em medicina: relato de experiência

“…Os conflitos, as tensões e as contradições naturalmente vivenciadas por meio do encontro de membros de diferentes culturas propiciam o diálogo e o debate de ideias, construindo um ambiente favorável à cooperação e ao aprendizado 11 . Tais contribuições tornam-se extremamente relevantes para a formação profissional, tendo em vista que a prática médica requer a capacidade de conciliação, adaptação e empatia por parte dos profissionais.…”

“…Além desse aspecto, a experiência com modelos distintos de relação médico-paciente e a interação com outros profissionais podem aperfeiçoar as habilidades de interação social e as competências interculturais dos graduandos 11 .…”

The benefits of international health experiences for Australian and New Zealand medical education

“…Jacobs and colleagues emphasised the value of students experiencing cultures, health systems and learning environments different from their own when they undertake an IHE, and being able to compare different health systems and cultures in such transformative learning. They noted that the “perception of differences between the cultures resulted in a rethinking of the participants' own views, attitudes, and actions” 12 . Experiences where students undertake electives in developing countries provide this opportunity for greater comparative learning, because of the stark differences in case mix, culture and health systems between developed and developing countries.…”

“…A number of qualitative and quantitative evaluations, including those comparing medical students who have undertaken IHEs with those who have not, have shown the positive impact of IHEs on personal consultation, clinical and diagnostic skills; 3,9,10 significantly higher average scores in the preventive medicine and public health portions of the National Board of Medical Examiners assessments; 11 and a greater appreciation of the importance of public health, health service delivery and cross-cultural communication. 3,[9][10][11][12] Further, an increased appreciation of the role of primary care and the importance of addressing the unmet needs of under-served communities is demonstrated by the career destinations of these graduates. 3,10 Many global student experiences take place between two developed countries.…”

Uluslararası Değişim Programları Genç Aile Hekimlerinin Kişisel ve Profesyonel Gelişimlerine Olumlu Etki Etmektedir

“…Katılımcıların yaklaşık dörtte biri yabancı dil becerisini geliştirmeyi hedefleyerek değişim programına katıldığını bildirirken, değişim programı sonucunda katılımcıların yarıya yakını yabancı dil becerisinde bir artış olduğunu belirtmiştir. Değişim programlarının genç hekimlerin sosyal ve kültürel gelişimine katkı sağladığı yapılan benzer çalışmalarla da gösterilmiştir (8)(9)(10).Katılımcıların büyük bir çoğunluğu değişim programından elde ettikleri katkıları "Birbirlerinden" sağladıkları yanıtını vermiştir. Yabancı dil becerisindeki katkının da değişim programı boyunca çeşitli kültür ve dillere sahip katılımcılar arasında kurulan iletişimin bir sonucu olduğu düşünülmektedir.…”