Effects of Elective Course on Personal, Professional, and Cross-Cultural Communication Skills Amongst Medical Graduates of Jordanian Medical Schools (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Statistical analysis for the review of medical students of Jordanian medical schools regarding the clinical elective course. For example, where students tend to spend this period and to understand the impact of elective course on professional, personal and cultural levels from the participants' perspective and if it has long-term effects. OBJECTIVE The study aims to understand the effect of the clinical elective course (abroad or inside Jordan) on the medical students of Jordanian universities at professional, personal, and cultural levels. In addition to the long-term impacts. It also aims to explore the best possible ways to take advantage of this course. METHODS A quantitative cross-sectional study. A well-structured questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms targeting doctors and medical students who participated in national or international elective throughout their 6th-year medical school. A total of 385 participants (Mean age is 26.32± 4.072). All doctors and graduates of Jordanian medical schools (class of 2020 and earlier) were invited to participate. RESULTS Most of the participants had international elective (268) compared to (117) who took national elective. Participants rated cross-cultural development following elective among participants who had international elective with the highest mean score of 4.09 (± 0.941) out of 5, followed by personal development. On the professional level, 75% agreed or strongly agreed that elective improved their communication skills with patients. CONCLUSIONS Elective provides an environment that prepares students to participate in clinical medicine and communicates professionally with patients and colleagues. Elective increases the level of self-confidence and self-dependence. Elective also has been shown to reinforce preferred speciality choices and elevate clinical compassion among medical students.