What Are the Objectives of Early Clinical Exposure?

Introduction: In recent decades, medical education has been following new approaches to early clinical exposure. This study was designed to determine early clinical exposure (ECE) objectives and their availability and importance from the participants’ viewpoint. Methods: In a descriptive study, 70 students who had participated in ECE at Isfahan Medical University were asked to complete a questionnaire based on ECE goals in other similar studies. The questionnaire included 22 items based on Likert scale and asking about two aspects of importance and availability of objectives. The total score for importance and availability and their relationship are reported. Items resulted in the greatest degree of agreement are presented as well. Results: Seventy two percent of the students took part in the study and Cronbach’s alpha for the questionnaire was equal to 0.91. The median of all items indicating the importance of objectives was 4 and higher. The availability items had the median score equal to 3 in 7 items and equal or greater than 4 in the rest of items. The mean of total importance score was 3.98±0.7 and of total availability score was 3.51±0.53 out of 5. There was a small correlation between importance and availability of objectives. Conclusion: The determined goals were appropriate for our ECE program in the case of importance and availability but more attempts is needed to help students with basic sciences and clinical education integration. This study provided a good model to determine ECE objectives based on each university’s specific needs. More studies are recommended to design these educational goals in an objective manner.