Strengthening the admissions process in health care professional education: focus on a premier Pacific Island medical college

Abstract

Relying solely on measures of intellectual aptitude and academic performance in university admissions can be disadvantageous to underprivileged students. The Fiji School of Medicine primarily uses such measures to evaluate and select student applicants, and the introduction of supplementary assessments could provide better access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This study examined the need for supplementary assessments in the admission process, types of additional assessments needed, and stakeholders’ views on a multi-entry multi-exit strategy currently in use at the Fiji School of Medicine. A survey of the key stakeholders was conducted in February and March 2012 using closed and open ended questionnaire. One hundred and twenty-two validated questionnaires were self-administered by key stakeholders from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS) and Fiji Ministries of Education and Health, with a response rate of 61%. Returned questionnaires were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Sixty-five percent of respondents supported the introduction of supplementary assessments, 49% favoured admissions test, and 16% preferred assessing non-academic factors. Many respondents supported the School’s multi-entry multi-exit strategy as a ‘good policy’ that provided ‘flexibility’ and opportunity for students, but should be better regulated. These findings demonstrate the need for supplementary assessments in the selection process and for continued support for the use of multi-entry multi-exit strategy at the school.

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The selection of students for entry into the healthcare professions has become an increasingly important issue (Patterson et al, 2018). The selection and admission of candidates who possess the required characteristics for the profession are one of the major challenges for health education providers internationally.Resolution of this challenge could contribute significantly to the development of health specialist professionals, and improved health care and outcomes in the communities served (Ezeala et al, 2012). Also, US healthcare reforms have recently focused on three goals: improving individual health care, improving community health and reducing financial costs.

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