International students' perspectives on medical school and internship: 'Oh international? Are you international?'
COVID‐19 pandemic
international students
medical education
medical students
preparedness for practice
transition
Journal
Internal medicine journal
ISSN: 1445-5994
Titre abrégé: Intern Med J
Pays: Australia
ID NLM: 101092952
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
31 Aug 2024
31 Aug 2024
Historique:
received:
21
05
2024
accepted:
21
07
2024
medline:
31
8
2024
pubmed:
31
8
2024
entrez:
31
8
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
International students account for a significant proportion of medical graduates Australia-wide, and most opting to remain in Australia for their first year of practice (Internship). Hence, understanding this particular demographic's perspectives is crucial for curriculum and workforce planning. Despite this, very few studies have addressed this demographic, and none have explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international medical students specifically. A qualitative design was used to explore the perspectives of final-year international medical students at an Australian medical school as they prepared for transition to internship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants engaged in a semi-structured interview about the pandemic's personal and professional implications. The data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Seven out of 34 final-year international medical students at the University of Adelaide participated. The main themes identified were that isolation was magnified, institutional support was lacking and that uncertainty was challenging. The pandemic did not deter participants from pursuing an Australian internship, as Australia was considered a desirable place for internship compared to their home countries. While the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, many of the challenges identified by international students already existed. Issues such as social isolation, racial discrimination, financial hardship and lack of institutional support have been prevalent for decades. Insights from this study reveal a need to improve the medical school experience. Australian Universities have a responsibility to ensure fair treatment of international students by training faculty, implementing support programmes and ensuring an inclusive and culturally safe learning environment.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
International students account for a significant proportion of medical graduates Australia-wide, and most opting to remain in Australia for their first year of practice (Internship). Hence, understanding this particular demographic's perspectives is crucial for curriculum and workforce planning. Despite this, very few studies have addressed this demographic, and none have explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international medical students specifically.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
A qualitative design was used to explore the perspectives of final-year international medical students at an Australian medical school as they prepared for transition to internship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
METHODS
Participants engaged in a semi-structured interview about the pandemic's personal and professional implications. The data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Seven out of 34 final-year international medical students at the University of Adelaide participated. The main themes identified were that isolation was magnified, institutional support was lacking and that uncertainty was challenging. The pandemic did not deter participants from pursuing an Australian internship, as Australia was considered a desirable place for internship compared to their home countries.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
While the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, many of the challenges identified by international students already existed. Issues such as social isolation, racial discrimination, financial hardship and lack of institutional support have been prevalent for decades. Insights from this study reveal a need to improve the medical school experience. Australian Universities have a responsibility to ensure fair treatment of international students by training faculty, implementing support programmes and ensuring an inclusive and culturally safe learning environment.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Author(s). Internal Medicine Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
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