Beyond M-Compass: Preparing Medical Students for International Experiences
Academic Year:
2013 - 2014 (June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014)
Funding Requested:
$7,500.00
Project Dates:
-
Applicant(s):
Overview of the Project:
Each year, approximately 70-80 medical students travel to low- and middle-income countries for educational experiences. Formal travel preparation currently consists of online learning modules through MCompass. Limitations of the modules include: a) they are not required for all students, b) not all students comply with the module recommendations (e.g., regarding medication prophylaxis following HIV exposure), and c) they are inadequate to prepare students for complex situations (e.g., whether to adopt local standards for sterile technique that may place the learner at risk). To address these limitations, we propose to create a set of video ‘triggers' describing complex scenarios in international settings with faculty-facilitated small group discussion. Video content will center on a series of up to five UM faculty and students describing actual situations recently encountered by UM medical students following by the question "What would YOU do?". After a pause for discussion, the scenario will be concluded. The video will be administered either in large group or small group settings, in either case allowing small group ‘break-out' sections for students to discuss their thinking, values, and possible responses to the posed situations. Beginning in academic year 2013-14, the video-discussion intervention will be administered twice yearly, and required of all medical students traveling internationally. Evaluation of the curriculum will be multi-pronged, and include student surveys immediately following the seminars and on return to the U.S., and post-travel interviews of 15-25 students on the value and effects of the video on their travel and learning experiences.