Content Analysis of Reflective Journals in Early Clinical Experience

Abstract

This study qualitatively analyzed medical students’ engagement of pre-clerkship early clinical experience and their implications based on reflective journals. The subjects were 60 third-year students who had taken the early clinical experience course offered by the Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine. Students had to complete and submit a reflective journal at the end of the course. This study used the reflective journals students submitted as analysis data. Data were analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’ inductive qualitative analysis. As a result of study, a total of 127 unique significant keywords and statements were extracted. These statements generated 11 formulated sub-categories and five theme categories. Five main categories were derived from the students’ reflective journals: understanding of patients, understanding of professionalism, understanding of other occupations, understanding of the hospital system, and motivation to learn. Students understood patients’ perspectives on diseases and improved their ability to empathize; they gained confidence in communication and clinical skills; they became more positive toward the underprivileged; and their interest in the medical system grew. The results suggest that early clinical experience can be applied as one beneficial educational program for medical students in the pre-clerkship curriculum.