Assessing medical student preparedness for the clinical phase: perspectives of clinical faculty across specialties and medical school types in Indonesia

Background: Evidence indicates that medical students often enter their clinical phase of undergraduate medical education without adequate preparation, which can affect their learning and patient safety. This study aimed to compare the preparedness of medical students to begin their clinical phase at public and private medical schools in Indonesia during and before the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the perspectives of clinical faculty. Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach with an explanatory sequential design. Quantitative data were collected from 48 clinical faculty members across eight Indonesian medical schools using a validated Indonesian version of the 39-item Student Readiness for Clerkship Survey, with each item measuring a specific competency. Qualitative data were obtained through focus group discussions. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze survey data, and thematic analysis was conducted to extract key themes from the qualitative responses. Results: The clinical faculty from public institutions rated students significantly higher in 35 out of 39 competency areas compared to their counterparts in private institutions. These survey findings were reinforced by the FGD findings, which revealed four key factors influencing medical students' preparedness: a strong clinical education system, competent clinical faculty, qualified medical students, and robust institutional support. Conclusion: This study reports perceived differences in clinical preparedness between public and private medical students in Indonesia and highlights institutional and educational factors that may contribute to these differences, informing efforts to strengthen the clinical education system.