Know Before You Go: Evaluating the Utility of Pre-Departure Training for Internal Medicine Residents Prior to an International Elective

Abstract

A needs assessment at Indiana University revealed that a large majority of internal medicine residents desired formal pre-departure training for their international elective in Kenya. In response, a two-hour orientation covering cultural context and site-specific clinical cases was developed and led by residents with prior experience in Eldoret. Pre- and post-curriculum surveys showed that participants, 75% of whom had minimal to moderate prior LMIC experience, reported increased familiarity with clinical challenges, improved preparedness, and reduced anxiety.