Enhancing learning in longitudinal clinical placements in community primary care clinics: undergraduate medical students’ voices

ABSTRACT

Longitudinal clinical placements are increasingly adopted by medical training institutions. However, there seems to be little evidence regarding their implementation in primary care settings in the developing world. This paper explored medical students’ perceptions of their learning experiences in longitudinal placements in primary care clinics. The Manchester clinical placement index (MCPI) survey was offered to second-year medical students at the University of Botswana to determine perceptions of their 16 weeks clinical placement in primary care clinics. The MCPI provided data on eight aspects of clinical placements which were analysed to gain insight into students learning experiences while on placement. The eight items in the tool were grouped into four themes, namely, teaching and learning, learning environment, relationships and organisation of placements. Students cited the feedback they received whilst on placement and the learning environment in primary care clinics as aspects of clinical placements which could be improved to enhance their learning experience. For an enriched learning experience in primary care settings in a developing world context, there are critical aspects to be considered. Based on the students’ perspective we suggest an approach of how learning in such placements could be enhanced.

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical placement
• longitudinal
• learning experience
• primary care clinics

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Dr Maikutlo B. Kebaetse (Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana) for his efforts as a critical reader in this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

Ethical clearance was sought from the University of Botswana (Ref: UB/RES/ETHI/391), the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Botswana, and Stellenbosch University (Ref#:S16/07/117).