Some results of introductory practice of the second year premedical and prehealth students

Abstract

Background: It is important to acquire the required knowledge, skills, and attitudes which can be performed sincerely and responsibly by applying knowledge based on science, comprehensively practicing the student’s knowledge, skills and attitudes in the medical environment, creating impressions for the first step to work in the hospital, demonstrating the comprehensive competence of manual skills at the basic medical training level, establishing relationships and acting with sincere heart whenever providing care to clients. Introductory practice is conducted in close coordination with contract teacher from the department, therefore there is increasing demand to listen to their opinions, problems, recommendations, study their satisfaction, and to make changes in the content and methodology of the program. It is necessary to study how effective and satisfactory was the introductory practice (96 hours, premedical) and (48 hours, prehealth) among students, and to improve the introductory practice furthermore. Aim: To study the results of introductory practice of the premedical and prehealth students Material and Methods: The study was performed using quantitative and qualitative research methods, along with hospital based observational design. Among 21 contract teachers from 16 different hospitals, who were approved by Division for undergraduate educational policy and management, 8 contract teachers agreed to participate in the study and they were asked to answer questionnaire including 5 closed, 2 open questions using google form. Total of 162 students from premedical and prehealth training, were asked to answer questionnaire including 7 closed, 2 open questions using google form. Participants were asked to rate each satisfaction indicator on a 1-5 scale (1-very poor, 5very good) using a fivepoint Likert scale to determine satisfaction. Furthermore, conducted a one-on-one interview with 8 contract teachers using a sheet with guided question. Results: 37.5% of the contract teachers of the department answered that they had moderate difÏculty, 25% answered they had little difÏculty, and 37.5% answered they had very little difÏculty to practice students alongside with work in the hospital. 60% of the contract teachers rated the initial knowledge and skills of the students as moderate and 40% rated as good. Students were mostly satisfied with the communication and attitude of hospitals’ doctors and nurses and 82.4% of the students rated it as good or very good. 75.5% of the students rated the communication and attitude of the customers receiving health care from the hospital as good or very good. Moreover, also 75.5% of the students rated the communication and attitude of other health proffesionals working at hospital as good or very good. Majority of the students, 81.7% rated that introductory practice was effective. Conclusions: 1. Introductory practice is the first step of clinical practice for medical and health students, in other words important practice which allows students to apply and use the content of the course. However, the issue of study rooms, changing rooms and lockers for students in hospitals has not been resolved. 2. There are several problems, such as the number of students is too high, some students are being sent to practice in distant hospitals, which causes difÏculties for the students, the contract teachers who manage the practice are dissatified with the bonuses they receive, and they are facing with large number of students and heavy workload.