title: Comparing a longitudinal integrated clerkship with traditional hospital-based rotations in a rural setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Longitudinal integrated clerkships (LIC) are widely used as an educational method, particularly in rural areas. They are good for facilitating hands-on learning and deep relationships between student, patients, and supervisors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to examine and compare learning experience of third-year rural medical students studying specialties (women's health, aged care, child and adolescent heath, mental health, general practice) by either a traditional hospital-based rotation or a LIC in a rural general practice setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected from two groups of rural students (LIC; traditional hospital-based) over two academic years, utilizing focus groups to investigate general experiences of living and learning rurally, within the different educational models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results reaffirmed that there was no perceived academic disadvantage to studying medicine rurally. Studying medicine in a rural area provides increased access to patients, more hands-on experience, and close relationships with patients and colleagues. LIC students reported increased confidence in clinical skills, felt better prepared for internship, however experienced more social isolation than students in hospital-based rotations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students undergoing a rural LIC feel more confident in their clinical skills and preparedness for practice than other rural students. This study supports the use of LICs as a powerful educational tool.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rural Health , University of Melbourne , Shepparton , Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caygill
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rural Health , University of Melbourne , Shepparton , Australia.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peardon
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rural Health , University of Melbourne , Shepparton , Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Waite
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rural Health , University of Melbourne , Shepparton , Australia.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*