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The impact of an early_exposure program on medical students' interest in and knowledge of rural medical practices: a questionnaire survey.
- Source :
- Asia Pacific Family Medicine; 2015, Vol. 14, p1-5, 5p
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Background: Many medical students in Japan were brought up in urban areas, thus rural medical practice is often unfamiliar to them. The University of Tsukuba created a one-day early_exposure program to provide freshman students with experience in rural practices. This study was designed to clarify how this one-day early_exposure program affected medical students' attitudes toward and knowledge of rural practices. Findings: First-year medical students (n = 103) were assigned to one of seven rural clinics in which they experienced rural practice for one day. A pre- and post-program questionnaire, rated on a 5-point Likert scale, was administered to assess students' interest in and knowledge of rural medical practice, with higher scores indicating greater interest and knowledge. Respondents who gave answers of 4 or 5 were defined as having high interest and knowledge. One hundred and one (98.1%) responses were received from students. After the program, the percentage of students interested in rural medical practices was increased (pre- and post-program: 39.0% and 61.0%, respectively; P < .001), as was the number of students who wanted to become physicians in a rural medical practice (pre- and postprogram: 53.0% and 73.0%, respectively; P < .01). Conclusions: Our one-day early_exposure program demonstrated a positive impact on medical students' interest in and knowledge of rural medical practice. Further follow-up surveys are needed to clarify whether these effects are sustained long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14441683
- Volume :
- 14
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Asia Pacific Family Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 109926258
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12930-015-0021-8