The educational value of clinical electives

One hundred and eighty-four medical students at the University of Queensland were surveyed after they returned from their clinical elective. Approximately half stayed in Australia, and the other half travelled overseas. The United Kingdom was the most popular overseas destination, but there was a wide geographic distribution. The most popular clinical specialties were surgery, medicine, orthopaedics and emergency medicine, while the least popular were geriatrics and psychiatry. They were given a reasonable work schedule, but students remaining in Australia had a heavier work-load. While students on overseas electives received more formal instruction, students remaining in Australian placements received greater responsibility and better acceptance, but the majority in both groups received adequate supervision. Students gained experience in a large number of practical procedures, especially those in Australian placements. More problems were encountered by students in overseas placements, particularly with regard to organizing the elective, finances and personal-social difficulties. The vast majority of students found their clinical elective to be moderately or extremely worthwhile, and cited a number of perceived benefits. These results suggest that the clinical elective can have significant educational value.