An audit on perception of foreign medical students on the elective training programme, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna

Introduction: An elective clinical appointment abroad is a regular component in many foreign medical undergraduate curriculums. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna has a structured and comprehensive academic programme for them.

 

Methods: An audit was performed to assess student perception on different aspects of the training via a selfadministered feedback form. All the elective students who completed their training during three months from 1st January 2019 were recruited. All data were entered to a database and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. The chi-square test was used to compare the groups and p < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

 

Results: One hundred one (101) students completed the elective student feedback form (non-response rate - 4%). The large majority (77%) were in the 6th or final year of their medical training. 55% were enrolled to spend 8 weeks in surgery. Elective students have shown a high level of satisfaction regarding the elective training provided at our unit. Most satisfactory areas include pre-arrival registration (80%), introduction by the coordinator in surgery (92%) and different clinical activities such as elective ward rounds and clinics of the unit (>75% for every component). On-site registration (34%), guided tour by a departmental representative (54%) and the opportunity to assist in operations (50%) faired less favourably. Plastic surgery (30%), neurosurgery (21%) and paediatric surgery (20%) were preferred by those who opted to do specialty surgical appointments in addition to general surgery. Nearly all (96%) were happy to recommend this training to someone else.

 

Conclusion: This study has enabled us to appraise the elective student programme for foreign students and for us to make suitable changes. A centre to coordinate elective students and offer of more hands-on surgical activities appears is justified.