The increasing need for healthcare services in rural areas cannot be satisfied because of the lack of healthcare professionals, and poor medical education and training. These result in the low competency of rural healthcare workers. Therefore, the medical education system needs to be reformed in order to improve healthcare human resources in rural areas.
Objective To analyze the challenges and growth of the clinical medicine undergraduates who participated in the China Scholarship Council funded international research exchange program, to provide a basis for the policy formulation and management of the follow-up projects. MethodsClinical medicine undergraduates from West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University who participated in the China Scholarship Council funded international research exchange program from 2013 to 2019 were selected. The survey was conducted using a self-designed questionnaire. Results A total of 64 clinical medicine undergraduates were surveyed. The laboratory safety training rates in the United States, Canada, and China were 100.00% (34/34), 100.00% (30/30), and 70.31% (45/64), respectively. The laboratory technical training rates were 97.06% (33/34), 90% (27/30), and 43.75% (28/64), respectively. During the experimental process, clinical medicine undergraduates from the United States [94.12% (32/34)], Canada [93.33% (28/30)], and China [65.63% (42/64)] would seek assistance from relevant personnel. The difficulty (H=47.798, P<0.001) and convenience (H=30.135, P<0.001) of booking laboratory instruments and equipment vary among the three countries. There were no statistically significant difference in the frequency, form, and research direction sources of guidance from mentors (P＞0.05). Majority of students thought the experience was helpful for scientific research thinking (59 people) and experimental skills (52 people), with 23 people obtained research output. Despite encountering challenges in study (11 people), life (8 people), language (14 people), and culture (11 people), the experience had positive impact on hobbies (35 people), independent living ability (55 people), and self-confidence (41 people). The students also had developed an international perspective (61 people), improved English ability (59 people), and progressed self-learning ability (57 people). Conclusions By participating in international research exchange programs, undergraduates can enhance their comprehensive research ability. Although there may be problems and challenges during the adaptation process, it also brings growth and self-confidence at the same time.
ObjectiveTo investigate the basic situation of existing medical English teaching methods and objects, develop medical English course content and teaching methods, and evaluate teaching effectiveness. Methods The existing medical English teaching methods were summarized based on literature retrieval, and both the basic level of medical students and data related to teaching effectiveness were collected by questionnaire surveys. Results Medical English teaching could be optimized by adjusting the content of medical English teaching, increasing the proportion of English teaching, and emphasizing the application of emerging electronic products in extracurricular English learning. Teaching methods could adopt various forms such as flipped classrooms. A questionnaire survey showed that most of the students (64.94%) were not satisfied with their current English level. These students fully recognized the importance of medical English. Based on the above results, medical English courses were offered in two semesters. This course adopts theoretical lectures, small-class teaching and other teaching methods. Scenario simulation and flipped classroom were also used. Conclusion Medical English courses should include medical vocabulary, clinical medical English, vocational medical English and academic medical English. Flipped classroom and other teaching methods should be flexibly applied.