Impact of a short-term global health training program on competencies and career intentions in elderly care: a pilot study among public health students in the Philippines

Abstract

Background: Population ageing and persistent global health threats demand educational approaches that build competencies and readiness for elderly care. We evaluated a short, structured international program embedded in a newly launched, government-funded employment-link program in Korea. Methods: A single-group pre-post mixed-methods design was conducted with 10 third-year public health undergraduates from Bataan Peninsula State University who completed a 4-week immersion (institutional visits; supervised rehabilitation/long-term-care practice; sessions on digital health/health information management; structured cultural activities). Quantitative outcomes include the Global Health Competency Self-Confidence Scale (GHC-SCS), Professional Values Scale (PVS), Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-12), and a study-developed Employment Intention Survey. Analyses emphasized paired effect size (bias-corrected Hedges’ g) with bootstrap 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and Holm-Bonferroni adjustment. Qualitative data comprised daily reflection journals and a post-program debriefing, thematically analyzed. Results: Significant improvements were observed in GHC-SCS (∆ = +1.15; g = 1.10; 95% CI, 0.65 to 1.55; P < 0.01), PVS (∆ = +0.55; g = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.50 to 1.40; P < 0.01), and PCQ-12 (∆ = +0.63; g = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.42 to 1.33; P < 0.01). Employment intention declined (∆ = −0.84; g = −0.90; 95% CI, −1.35 to −0.45; P < 0.01). Four themes illuminated mechanisms: (1) health-system literacy and transferability (e.g., standardized documentation, fall-risk checks, caregiver education as “quick wins”); (2) cultural immersion and affective learning; (3) interprofessional teamwork and practice insight; and (4) professional identity formation with recalibration of near-term career intentions. Conclusion: A deliberately structured, policy-embedded short-term program can strengthen global health competencies, professional values, and psychosocial resources while prompting realistic, informed career planning in elderly care. Large, comparative, and longitudinal studies with behavioral endpoints are warranted to test durability, identify high-leverage components (e.g., language preparation, mentored placement length, reflection dose), and assess whether recalibrated intentions translate into workforce entry and retention. © 2025 Korean Society of Global Health.