Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2014

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (JPHMP)

Volume 20, Issue 5, November-December 2014, Pages E10-9.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000031. Copyright © Wolters Kluwer

Abstract

CONTEXT: Many encourage service learning and health advocacy training in medical student education, but related evaluation is limited.

OBJECTIVES: To assess (1) impact of a required community health advocacy training for medical students on student attitudes, knowledge, and skills; (2) student characteristics associated with higher advocacy knowledge and skills; and (3) perspectives of community-based organizations (CBOs).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys.

SETTING: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM) Regional Medical Campus and main campus.

PARTICIPANTS: Medical students at both UMMSM campuses.

INTERVENTION: Required community health advocacy training for first- and second-year students including classroom experiences and hands-on project in partnership with a CBO.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Student characteristics, health advocacy-related attitudes, self-reported and objective knowledge, and skills. Scores were compared between campuses, with multivariable modeling adjusting for individual student characteristics. Community-based organization perspectives were assessed via separate surveys.

RESULTS: Ninety-eight (77%) regional campus students (intervention group) and 139 (30%) main campus students (comparison group) completed surveys. Versus the comparison group, the intervention group reported greater: mean knowledge of community health needs: 34.6 versus 31.1 (range: 11-44, P < .01), knowledge about CBOs: 3.0 versus 2.7 (range 1-4, P < .01) and knowledge of community resources: 5.4 versus 2.3 (range, 0-11, P < .01), and mean skill scores: 12.7 versus 10.5 (score range: 4-16, P < .01), following the intervention. Using adjusted analysis across both groups, female gender was associated with higher attitudes score. High level of previous community involvement was associated with higher attitude and skill scores. Higher self-reported educational debt was associated with higher skill scores. Community-based organization perspectives included high satisfaction and a desire to influence the training of future physicians.

CONCLUSIONS: Medical student advocacy training in partnership with community-based organizations could be beneficial in improving student advocacy knowledge and skills in addressing community health issues and in developing sustainable community partnerships.

Additional Files
Figure 1 BWrev.pdf (162 kB)
Figure 1: Health Advocacy Training Overview
Table 1.pdf (20 kB)
Table 1: Demographic and Profession-Related Characteristics of Participants from the Intervention Group and the Comparison Group
Figure 2 Final.pdf (45 kB)
Figure 2: Score Distribution for the Three Main Outcome Variables of Attitudes, Self-Reported Knowledge of Community Health Needs and Skills Summary Scores by Campus
Table 2.pdf (11 kB)
Table 2: Percentage of Students Correctly Answering Questions Relating to Objective Knowledge of Community Resources for Topic-Specific Needs
Table 3.pdf (23 kB)
Table 3: Attitude Toward Health Advocacy, Self-Reported Knowledge of Community Health Needs, and Skills Mean Summary Scores by Demographic Characteristics and Physician-Related Characteristics

PubMed ID

24322841

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