What influences student experience of Graduate Entry Medicine? Qualitative findings from Swansea School of Medicine

Abstract

Background: The Graduate Entry Programme (GEP) in Medicine delivered by Swansea University (currently in collaboration with Cardiff University) accepts students from a diverse range of academic backgrounds with no restriction in relation to the field of first degree. There is a growing body of literature, predominantly quantitative in nature, regarding the influence of academic background on student achievement but little published information on students’ views.

Aim: To examine students’ views regarding the extent to which previous higher education and wider life experience influence their student experience on the GEP course.

Method: Recruitment from three student cohorts and group interview data followed by descriptive thematic analysis of anonymized data.

Results: Data themes were: (1) previous study experience and its impact on present student experience; (2) the impact of life experience; (3) the impact of the present study on life experience; (4) skills, status and difference; (5) characteristics and expectations of the course; (6) finances and (7) next steps. Previous study experience had little impact on present student experience. However, previous life experience, with time between first degree and GEP, clearly enhances the learning experience. Added maturity and early clinical contact enables students to manage the challenges of the course and the NHS environment despite financial strain and heavy coursework.

Conclusions: Analysing students’ views is informative and provides richer insight into experience and expectations than that accessible from quantitative data alone.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frances Rapport

FRANCES RAPPORT, PhD, is Professor of Qualitative Health Research at the School of Medicine, Swansea University, Head of the Qualitative Research Unit and Co-Lead of Qualitative Inquiry Cyrmu (QUIC) an all-Wales research collaborative. She took a leading role in publication writing study design and implementation, supporting data capture and analysis.

Gwen F. Jones

DR GWEN F. JONES is a General Practitioner and Senior Clinical Tutor at Swansea Graduate Entry Medical School. She leads the Family Case Study – early clinical contact in the first year of the course. She played a major role in study design, data analysis and in drafting the article.

Shaun Favell

SHAUN FAVELL is a final year student in the Swansea/Cardiff Graduate Entry Medical Programme. His role in this study was to lead the student involvement, including planning, study design, execution of interviews, collection of data, data analysis and drafting.

Jonathan Bailey

JONATHAN BAILEY is a final year student on the Swansea Graduate Entry Medical Programme. He contributed to the recruitment and interviewing of participants, the analysis of interviews and contributed to the final report.

Laurence Gray

LAURENCE GRAY is a Foundation Year-1 doctor and graduate of the Swansea/Cardiff Graduate Entry Programme. In this study, he organized interviews, acted as facilitator during discussions and analysed data.

Alexis Manning

ALEXIS MANNING is a Foundation Year-1 doctor at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust, and was part of the first cohort of Swansea students. He was involved in the development of the protocol, recruitment and interviewing of participants, analysis of responses and reviewing of the final report.

Paul Sellars

PAUL SELLARS is a Graduate Entry medical student at Swansea/Cardiff Medical School. His involvement in the research project included helping with study design, holding student interviews and data analysis.

Julie Taylor

JULIE TAYLOR has recently graduated as one of the first student cohort. Her contributions included recruitment of participants, fieldwork, transcript analysis and participation in steering group meetings.

Aidan Byrne

AIDAN BYRNE is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Education at Swansea University. He contributed to data analysis and the writing of the study report.

Adrian Evans

ADRIAN EVANS is a Senior Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Morriston Hospital, Swansea and Reader in Emergency Medicine at the School of Medicine, Swansea University. He is also Clinical Module Lead for Musculoskeletal and Undergraduate Examiner for intermediate and final examinations. Dr Evans contributed to study design and analysis.

Claire Cowell

CLAIRE COWELL is the Admissions Coordinator for the Graduate Entry Medical Programme at Swansea University and contributed to the qualitative article by assisting with the transcription of audio material and commenting on drafts.

Sarah Rees

SARAH G. REES is a Lecturer in Medical Science and Admissions Tutor for Graduate Entry Medicine. She has contributed to data analyses and interpretation in this study.

Rhys Williams

RHYS WILLIAMS is Dean of Medicine and Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the Swansea School of Medicine. His contribution was the initial stimulus for this research and involvement in each of its stages.