Satisfaction survey of early clinical exposure in medical students: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Early clinical exposure (ECE), one type of vertical integration model between preclinical and clinical subjects, is a teaching-learning technique that improves early medical students' professionalism. Conventional medical training delays clinical exposure until later years, potentially diminishing students' motivation and confidence. This study aims to evaluate the satisfaction and perception of third-year medical students from the ECE program. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving a convenience sample of 93 third-year medical students participating in an ECE program from December to March 2023 in the emergency ward. Data were collected using a validated semi-structured questionnaire, administered immediately after the program and three months later, after the students officially entered the clinical setting. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to assess students' satisfaction and perceptions. Results: Out of 93 participants, 80 completed the questionnaire. Most of the students found ECE to be an effective program with a satisfaction rate of over 90% in terms of benefits for the clinical years, helping to adapt to the clinical environment, giving confidence to communicate with supervisors and patients, and taking medical history and physical examination individually or in groups of two or more people. However, results show a significant decrease in the attitude towards the ECE program after entering the hospital (P value = 0.001). Qualitative feedback highlighted the effectiveness of ECE in helping students adapt to the clinical environment, the need for prolonged interaction with supervisors, and the integration of ECE across all courses. Discussion: The ECE program significantly improved students' initial confidence and adaptability to clinical environments. However, the observed decline in long-term satisfaction suggests a gap between the structured ECE experience and the complexities of real clinical practice. Continuous adaptation and integration of ECE throughout medical training are essential to sustain students' motivation and confidence as they transition to clinical roles.