[Evaluation of students rotational work experience in health centers of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Extremadura].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the opinions of the students from the 6th year of the medical degree course, regarding their rotation in health centres, together with their knowledge, preferences and perception on various different aspects of primary medical attention.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observation. Evaluation by means of opinion questionnaire.

SETTING

Primary medical attention. Four urban health centres in Badajoz and one in Mérida, with responsibilities for the teaching of pregrade medicine.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

67 students of the sixth year of the University medical course, 1992-1993.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Out of a total of 101 university students, 67 (66.3%) took part in the voluntary rotation scheme that the Health Centres offer the University. The average age of the students was 24.3 +/- 1.1 years. 84% of the students rated the experience as "useful" or "very useful", and 63% thought it should be longer. The students correctly identified features that distinguish outpatients clinics from Health Centres. Medicine is the magazine most known and most consulted by the students. Almost all of the students (97%) will take the MIR examination, and the family and community medicine specialties hold a particular attraction for these students.

CONCLUSIONS

We note that students rated the rotation work experience in the health centres highly. But there is still a lack of coordination and a degree of fragmentation of teaching aims. The universities are not making sufficient use of the learning opportunities offered by the health centres.