Working in global health: A planning and implementation framework for international electives

Abstract

Purpose: Propose a framework for planning and undertaking an international elective.

Methods: On returning from conducting maternal health and well-being research in several remote communities in India, two undergraduate medical students have reflected on and documented their experiences with the view to assisting other students (and their supervisors) considering undertaking an international elective.

Results: A framework for undertaking clinical or research electives in remote or rural communities is presented. The framework comprises three distinct phases: Pre-departure planning and briefing, in-country experiences and returning from the elective and considers a range of factors to ensure that, as a minimum, visiting students “do no harm” and are themselves not harmed.

Conclusions: Students’ home institutions have a duty of care for preparing them for their international electives by providing pre-departure training, support during the elective and comprehensive de-briefing on their return. These electives should be evaluated (including by host communities) to ensure that exchanges are socially accountable, with no harm to the often-vulnerable communities in which students gain considerable experience. Also important is that future students build on the positive experiences of their predecessors to ensure sustainability of any interventions in host communities.

Acknowledgements

S. T. T. and E. T. T. would like to thank the women in Attappady who gave up their time to talk to us and participate in our survey.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Notes on contributors

Sarah T. Thomas, MBBS, has recently completed her internship at the Gold Coast University Hospital, Australia. When the elective was undertaken, she had completed her third year of her five-year MBBS degree. She plans to return to India to spend time with the local Attappady community at their government hospital after she undertakes basic physician training.

Elizabeth T. Thomas is in her final year of a 5-year MD degree. At the time of the elective, she had completed her first year of the MD program. Her main interests are in maternal and child health. Elizabeth aims to work with the Attappady community to improve the overall health and well-being of women and children in this remote community.

Michelle McLean, PhD, M.Ed., is the Academic Lead for small group learning at Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia. Her academic interests include the development of professional identities. More recently, she has become involved in discussions around including climate change in the medical curriculum.