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Abstract

Purpose: We have previously reported that a one-day educational programme could help strengthen Australian senior secondary school students’ decision to pursue a health-related career. Given that graduate-entry pathway, following a life-science related undergraduate degree, is becoming the common entry pathway to healthcare degree in Australia, the need for an educational programme specifically designed for life-science related undergraduates interested in pursuing a career in healthcare is crucial. To address this gap, MED-E-SIM (Graduate Entry) pilot programme was designed and implemented.

Method: MED-E-SIM (Graduate Entry) is a one-day educational programme aimed at inspiring Australian life-science related undergraduates in pursuing healthcare professions through immersive and simulated learning. To evaluate the impact of MED-E-SIM (Graduate Entry), 55 life-science related undergraduates who participated in the programme were invited to complete the post programme evaluation survey. Participants were also interviewed shortly after the completion of their life-science related undergraduate degree to confirm their healthcare career pursuit status.

Results: We observed significant increases in students’ certainty in pursuing healthcare career (P < 0.001) immediately after the completion of MED-E-SIM (Graduate Entry) programme. Follow-up interview data showed 55.10% of respondents reported to have succeeded in enrolling into a medicine or healthcare related entry-to-practice degree after the completion of their life-science related undergraduate degree. Out of those not enrolled into a subsequent entry-to-practice healthcare degree, 38.78% expressed to be still considering or pursuing a future career in healthcare.

Discussion: MED-E-SIM (Graduate Entry) programme can be used as a feasible strategy to increase life-science related undergraduates’ pursuit in healthcare careers and ultimately help alleviate the alarming worldwide shortage of healthcare workers faced within the next decade.

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