Perceptions of Medical Students and Facilitators of an Early Clinical Exposure Instructional Program.

BACKGROUND: Early introduction to clinical medicine program was use as medical curriculum, Suranaree University since 2007. Today, medical students are learning introduction to patient contact, communication skills and clinical examination in the pre-clinicalyears with the purpose ofgaining early clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE: Investigation for pre-clinical students and clinical facilitators' perception through early introduction to clinical medicine.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Third-year medical students were enrolled in the introduction to clinical medicine coursefor 2 weeks. Questionnaires for student andfacilitator versions were distributed to 60 students and 21 facilitators. In the analysis, both t-test analysis and bivariate analysis for mean difference were used, statistical significant p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Sixty students (participation rate 100%) and 16 `facilitators (participation rate 76%) completed the questionnaire. Differences in perception between medical students and facilitators were found in domains of professionalism, facilitator's perception were greater than medical students in medical profession were (4.5 vs. 3.87, p = 0.03), domain that medical student's perception were greater than facilitator's in encouragement was (3.95 vs. 3.25, p < 0.01) and pressure in learning environment (3.92 vs. 3.12, p < 0.01). No learning gaps of facilitators and medical students in the other domains ofcognitive, interpersonal skills, ethics, learning, teacher preparation and social environment and overall stratification were identified.

CONCLUSION: The students experienced the course as providing them with a valuable introduction to the physician professional role in clinical practice. In medical students' perception, they often experienced encouragement and the learning environment more so thanfacilitators did. Overall stratification was good in perception of facilitators and medical students.