Preparation, relationship and reflection: Lessons for international medical electives.

Background: International medical electives (IMEs) provide opportunities for global health education within undergraduate medical curricula; however, ethical and practical preparations vary.

Methods: Single-centre, prospective, mixed-methods study, utilising online questionnaires with students and host supervisors, contemporaneous reflective diaries and focus groups, to explore the preparedness and experiences of final-year UK medical students undertaking IMEs.

Results: Students experienced communication challenges and felt underprepared prior to IME.