Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Medical students are often unprepared for social challenges in caring for safety net patients. We aim to evaluate and chronicle the evolution of a pre-clinical elective alongside medical disparities curriculum.
DESIGN AND METHODS: Medical students designed the course to supplement clinical training on care of vulnerable patients. From 2011-2015, there have been 80 first-year medical student participants, five cohorts of second-year course leaders, and two supporting faculty advisors for this 10-12 session evening elective.
RESULTS: Students (n=67) rated the course extremely highly (ranging from 4.4-4.6 on a five-point Likert scale). Medical students reported having significantly more knowledge of underserved populations after taking the course (difference=0.72, SE=0.16, P <0.001). Career interests and attitudes toward health disparities remained strong after taking the course.
CONCLUSIONS: This student-created elective equipped participants with improved knowledge in caring for underserved patients and contributed to the incorporation of health disparities in medical curriculum. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2016-10.asp].
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 43-47 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Rhode Island medical journal (2013) |
| Volume | 99 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| State | Published - Oct 4 2016 |
Keywords
- health disparities
- medical education
- underserved patients
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)