"More than just a medical student": a mixed methods exploration of a structured volunteering programme for undergraduate medical students.

Background: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic Imperial College School of Medicine developed a structured volunteering programme involving 398 medical students, across eight teaching hospitals. This case study aims to explore the relationship between the processes, context, participant experiences and impacts of the programme so that lessons can be learned for future emergencies and service-learning programmes.

Methods: Using an illuminative approach to evaluation we invited all volunteers and supervisors to complete a mixed-methods survey.

Outpatient learning perspectives at a UK hospital.

Background: Undergraduate students spend much of their training in the clinical workplace, increasingly in hospital outpatient settings; however, they report that this does not always yield the educational value that they expect. This study investigates ways in which outpatient learning can be enhanced from the perspectives of students and teachers, exploring which approaches may be most appropriate in different circumstances.

Methods: We conducted 14 semi-structured interviews with medical students from one UK medical school and consultants (specialists) at a single teaching hospital.