Impact of early clinical exposure on medical students' competency development: a systematic review of evidence from Asian and African countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early stages of medical training are vital to ensure the academic performance of medical students. In conventional medical programs, students tend to be exposed to clinical training in the final years of their studies. However, this strategy has been profoundly reconsidered in recent years, with growing evidence showing that early clinical exposure (ECE) might enhance cognitive and effective learning outcomes for medical students. Nonetheless, there is insufficient information on the particular influence of ECE on medical competencies. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of ECE on the competency development of medical students.

Methods

An online search for potential studies was conducted on five major electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL

SUBMITTER: Shaban EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12750808 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature