A systematic review of virtual elective programmes for medical students.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clinical electives are a compulsory part of many medical courses, enabling students to gain exposure to foreign health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in the development in virtual elective programmes, for which there had been a sparse evidence base. This is the first systematic review assessing the implementation, advantages and disadvantages of virtual elective programmes for medical students.

Methods

The systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Databases were searched, capturing results from the past 10 years for original evaluations of electives where medical students engaged in a fully virtual programme with another institution, with no restrictions on location. Descriptive, quantitative and qualitative data were ext

SUBMITTER: McCarron L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11663723 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature