Student paramedic views of an international clinical and cultural learning experience

Background: Universities are now frequently exploring international placements and learning experiences for paramedicine students. This has given rise to questions about the quality and meaningfulness of overseas student experiences within the paramedic curriculum.
Aim: This study investigates whether a university-organised overseas trip provided a useful clinical and cultural learning experience for undergraduate paramedicine students.
Methods: A 60-question survey was administered to participants, with questions chiefly focusing on clinical and cultural experiences during the overseas trip. Statistical software was used to analyse continuous and categorical survey data.
Findings: This international trip appears to have provided a very useful cultural learning experience, but a sub-optimal clinical learning experience for students (even despite child births, emergency room presentations and blood-draws).
Conclusions: A validated survey instrument which builds upon current knowledge and literature could be used more widely to evaluate and better understand the dimensions of quality in overseas paramedic student placements.