Table 1 Travel preparation competencies and their definitions
From: Are you ready? A systematic review of pre-departure resources for global health electives
Competency | Definition |
|---|---|
Culture | cultural competency training |
Safety | crime prevention, emergency or evacuation protocol and first aid |
Project-specific knowledge | procedural skills (clinical or non-clinical), detailing scope of work, and logistical support |
Ethics | certified scope of work, responsibility to local collaborators and community members, and power dynamics |
Travel medicine | recommended immunizations, post-exposure prophylaxis, and health insurance coverage abroad |
Language | formal or informal language courses and fulfilling language competency requirements |
Mentorship | expectations, feedback delivery, and communication plan |
Professionalism | clinical communication skills, expectations of the patient-provider interaction |
Emotional wellness and culture shock | mental health, mental processing of experiences, homesickness |