Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Starting by 2012 academic year, Student Scientific Research Club of Marmara University School of Medicine has organized an elective summer clerkship program (SCP) with contributions from academicians. This study aims to gather a feedback to identify the factors that determine the preferences of summer clerkship participants and the effects of SCP on the general medical education, to evaluate whether SCP was satisfactory or had problems, and to encourage the development of similar activities. Methods: A survey questioning the students’ age, sex, average grade and their choice of department for clerkship were given and their reasons of participation, satisfaction regarding the program, as well as the benefits and negative aspects of SCP were questioned. Results: In the SCP 2013, 140 students have applied for 164 internships offered by 26 departments (basic, surgical and internal medicine). Ninety-nine surveys were collected back (RR: 81%) and 65 participants (66%) were female. Fifty-eight percent of participants stated that the general satisfaction in the program were “quite well/outstanding”. The top reasons for applying to the program were “to gain knowledge on a specialty”, “to be exposed to clinical/laboratory/ operation room environment” and “to improve clinical skills for future use”. Conclusions: Elective SCP has provided an experience for pre-clinical students to meet patient and hospital atmosphere earlier in their education and to increase their knowledge in the application of basic sciences. Clinical students have benefited from electives as a way to increase their experience and focus on their fields of interest

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