scholarly journals “As an ethnic minority, you just have to work twice as hard.” Experiences and motivation of ethnic minority students in medical education

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulviye Isik ◽  
Anouk Wouters ◽  
Petra Verdonk ◽  
Gerda Croiset ◽  
Rashmi A. Kusurkar
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Minority Students ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Family Interactions ◽  
Ethnic Minority Students ◽  
Medical Network ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Introduction Adequate representation of ethnic minority groups in the medical workforce is crucial for ensuring equitable healthcare to diverse patient groups. This requires recruiting ethnic minority medical students and taking measures that enable them to complete their medical studies successfully. Grounded in self-determination theory and intersectionality, this paper explores the experiences of ethnic minority medical students across intersections with gender and other categories of difference and how these relate to students’ motivation. Methods An explorative, qualitative study was designed. Six focus groups were conducted with 26 ethnic minority students between December 2016 and May 2017. Thematic analysis was performed to identify, analyse and report themes within the data. Results The findings were categorized into three main themes: the role of autonomy in the formation of motivation, including students’ own study choice and the role of their family; interactions/‘othering’ in the learning environment, including feelings of not belonging; and intersection of ethnic minority background and gender with being ‘the other’, based on ethnicity. Discussion Ethnic minority students generally do not have a prior medical network and need role models to whom they can relate. Ensuring or even appointing more ethnic minority role models throughout the medical educational continuum—for example, specialists from ethnic minorities in teaching and/or mentoring roles in the education—and making them more visible to students is recommended. Moreover, a culture needs to be created in the educational environment in which students and staff can discuss their ethnicity-related differences.

scholarly journals Learning styles of ethnic minority students: a matched case-control study in a dental school in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34
Author(s):  
Carlos Martín Ardila Medina ◽  
Angela María Gómez Restrepo
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Minority Students ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Multivariate Model ◽  
Grade Point Averages ◽  
Dental School ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Ethnic Minority Students

Introduction and objective: Little is known about the learning styles of ethnic minorities in Latin American universities. The objective of this research was to identify the learning styles of the ethnic minorities attending a dental school. Moreover, their grade point averages were explored. Materials and methods: A total of 30 ethnic minority students were matched with 30 non-minority students. All the students took a systematized questionnaire to categorize their learning styles. Results: A strong association between ethnic minority students and low reflector style was observed in the multivariate model after adjusting for age, sex, and the current semester (OR=11; 95% CI=1.2-99; p=0.03). In addition, a relevant association between minority ethnic group and low theorist style was observed in the multivariate model after controlling for the same variables (OR= 4; 95% CI=1.2-11; p=0.02). Finally, a statistically significant difference was observed in the grade point averages of non-minority and minority groups, with the minority group having the loweraverages (p=0.014). Conclusions: Ethnic minority students presented lower means for all learning styles compared to the control group. Similarly, theirgrade point averages were significantly inferior. These findings represent relevant precedents for creating educational strategies to improve the learning of ethnic minority groups in higher education in Latin America. 

scholarly journals “What kind of support do I need to be successful as an ethnic minority medical student?” A qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulviye Isik ◽  
Anouk Wouters ◽  
Gerda Croiset ◽  
Rashmi A. Kusurkar
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Medical Network ◽  
Minority Medical Student

Abstract Background To be in alignment with the increasing diversity in the patient population, ethnic minorities should have appropriate representation in health care professions. Medical students from ethnic minorities therefore need to be successful in their medical studies. The current literature highlights that they underperform in comparison with the ethnic majority. The aim of the present study is to gain insight into what medical students from ethnic minorities experience during their education and what they need to become or stay motivated and to perform to their full potential. Methods Medical students from ethnic minorities from year 1 to 6, enrolled at Amsterdam UMC, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, the Netherlands, were invited via email to participate in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, using an interview guide, from August–October 2018. A constructivist paradigm was adopted. Results Eighteen medical students from ethnic minorities (three from year 1, three from year 2, one from 3, four from year 4, two from year 5, and three from year 6) participated in this study. Students’ negative experiences could be categorized as follows: (1) the effect of discrimination (2) lack of representation of ethnic minority role models, (3) lack of a sense of belonging, (4) lack of a medical network, (5) differences and difficulties in cultural communication and language, and (6) examiner bias in clinical assessments. Examples of support tips relating to these experiences are: increasing awareness about diversity and other religions, providing support groups, having visible ethnic minority role models, and facilitating support in networking. Conclusions Findings of this study suggest that medical students from ethnic minorities have negative experiences that influence their education. Supporting these students is essential for creating a good and safe educational and practical environment for ethnic minority students.

scholarly journals Role of Academic Advising in Mitigating the Challenges of Ethnic Minority Students at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen T. Van ◽  
Hamdan Said ◽  
Mohd R. M. Rameli ◽  
Noriadah A. Karim ◽  
Norashuha Tajuddin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Minority Students ◽  
Academic Advising ◽  
Ethnic Minority Students
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