Analysis of the perceptions, competencies, and educational needs for global health among medical students in South Korea: Cross-sectional study using the Borich needs assessment and the Locus for Focus model (Preprint)

Abstract

Global health, which pursues health equity for all across country boundaries, is essential in medical education to cultivate future doctors. Global health education (GHE) is still in its early stages in Korean medical education; thus, it is necessary to identify the level of awareness and needs assessment of medical students in relation to GHE.

The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of GHE among medical students and their involvement in global health activities and identify priorities of educational needs for developing GHE programs.

This study was cross-sectional and conducted through an online survey for medical students. The participants were students attending medical schools nationwide, and the final analysis target was 678 of the respondents. The survey developed questionnaires necessary for research purposes regarding global health-related experiences and perceptions, level of awareness of global health competencies (GHC), and needs assessments. The frequency analysis, chi-squared test, and independent t-test were used to explore global health-related participation and awareness. Educational priorities for GHE were also analyzed using the Borich Needs Assessment Model and the Locus for Focus Model.

In total, 60.6% (411/678) of Korean medical students agreed on the need for GHE, whereas 12.1% (82/678) agreed on the appropriateness of GHE in the current medical school curriculum, indicating a perception gap between the necessity and the status. At the current level of awareness of global health and GHC, we identified statistically significant differences according to gender, participation in global health activities, and GHE. In the analysis of the educational needs of GHC, all items of GHC had statistically significant differences between the importance level and the current level, and priorities were derived.

Discussions on fostering prospective doctors with GHC in medical education have been ongoing, but further studies are needed due to insufficient research on GHE in Korean medical education. Therefore, we expect the findings of this study to be used in Korean medical education as fundamental data to prepare a hereafter research foundation for GHE and discuss systematic GHE based on GHC. In addition, the Korean case of this study will be able to provide practical information on GHE in medical education in Asian countries.