Global Health Education for Medical Students: When Learning Objectives Include Research

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Medical Education
• Public Health Research

Background:

• The Luke Commission provides mobile health outreach in rural Swaziland, focusing on HIV testing, prevention, and male circumcision.
• Educational objectives for medical student global health electives are crucial for integrating research with clinical practice.
• Medical care databases from aid organizations can yield significant findings impacting international health policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the educational value of integrating research methodology into international medical electives.
• To explore how medical students can contribute to global health research through clinical data analysis.
• To enhance medical student training by combining clinical experiences with academic research.

Main Methods:

• Data from 1500 male patients undergoing circumcision between January and June 2014 were collected and deidentified by The Luke Commission staff.
• Medical students designed studies, analyzed patient data, and researched adverse event rates, pain perception, and penile malformations.
• Institutional review board approval was secured, and senior surgical faculty provided mentorship throughout the research process.

Main Results:

• First-year medical students participated in an international medical elective, learning research methodology and engaging in data collection and analysis.
• Students presented their research findings at over 10 regional and national meetings.
• All research articles produced by the students have been accepted or are under consideration for publication in major journals.

Conclusions:

• Combining clinical experiences with access to health aid organization databases during international electives provides a strong foundation for medical student research.
• Careful planning and cultural awareness enable medical students to enhance their research skills and contribute to global health literature and policy.
• The integration of patient care delivery and clinical research significantly enhances the educational experience for medical students in global health settings.