title: Complementary knowledge sharing: Experiences of nursing students participating in an educational exchange program between Madagascar and Norway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe how Malagasy and Norwegian nursing students experience an educational exchange program in Madagascar.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Previous studies show that nursing students participating in an educational exchange program enhanced their cultural knowledge and experienced personal growth. However, few studies have described two-way exchange programs, including experiences from both the hosts' and the guest students' perspectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study applies a descriptive qualitative design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in 2015 by means of five semi-structured interviews with Malagasy students and two focus group interview sessions with Norwegian students. They were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The study was conducted in Madagascar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data analyses revealed one main theme and two sub-themes related to the Malagasy and Norwegian nursing students' experiences. Main theme: complementary knowledge sharing; sub-themes: (1) learning from each other and (2) challenges of working together.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that both the Malagasy and Norwegian nursing students experienced the exchange program as valuable and essential in exchanging knowledge. They also highlighted challenges, linked mainly to language barriers and the lack of available resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Social Science, University of Stavanger, Norway. Electronic address: ingrid.tjoflat@uis.no.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tjoflåt
authors.affiliation: Malagasy Lutheran Nursing School (SEFAM), Antsirabe, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Razaonandrianina
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Social Science, University of Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørg
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karlsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Social Science, University of Stavanger, Norway; University College Vestfold, Norway; Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Britt Sætre
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D019359:Knowledge; D008016:Life Change Events; D008270:Madagascar; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014195:Travel / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Clinical placement; International exchange experiences; Madagascar; Norway; Nursing students; Qualitative analysis