The future of physician advocacy: a survey of U.S. medical students
Abstract Background Advocacy is a core component of medical professionalism. It is unclear how educators can best prepare trainees for this professional obligation. We sought to assess medical students’ attitudes toward advocacy, including activities and issues of interest, and to determine congruen...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02830-5 |
| _version_ | 1818440487476920320 |
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| author | Susan Chimonas Maha Mamoor Anna Kaltenboeck Deborah Korenstein |
| author_facet | Susan Chimonas Maha Mamoor Anna Kaltenboeck Deborah Korenstein |
| author_sort | Susan Chimonas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Advocacy is a core component of medical professionalism. It is unclear how educators can best prepare trainees for this professional obligation. We sought to assess medical students’ attitudes toward advocacy, including activities and issues of interest, and to determine congruence with professional obligations. Methods A cross-sectional, web-based survey probed U.S. medical students’ attitudes around 7 medical issues (e.g. nutrition/obesity, addiction) and 11 determinants of health (e.g. housing, transportation). Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and regression analysis investigated associations with demographic characteristics. Results Of 240 students completing the survey, 53% were female; most were white (62%) or Asian (28%). Most agreed it is very important that physicians encourage medical organizations to advocate for public health (76%) and provide health-related expertise to the community (57%). More participants rated advocacy for medical issues as very important, compared to issues with indirect connections to health (p < 0.001). Generally, liberals and non-whites were likelier than others to value advocacy. Conclusions Medical students reported strong interest in advocacy, particularly around health issues, consistent with professional standards. Many attitudes were associated with political affiliation and race. To optimize future physician advocacy, educators should provide opportunities for learning and engagement in issues of interest. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T18:13:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a3c996ae1e04098924faf716bde74b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T18:13:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a3c996ae1e04098924faf716bde74b32022-12-21T22:52:14ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202021-07-012111910.1186/s12909-021-02830-5The future of physician advocacy: a survey of U.S. medical studentsSusan Chimonas0Maha Mamoor1Anna Kaltenboeck2Deborah Korenstein3Center for Health Policy & Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCenter for Health Policy & Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCenter for Health Policy & Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCenter for Health Policy & Outcomes and chief of the General Internal Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterAbstract Background Advocacy is a core component of medical professionalism. It is unclear how educators can best prepare trainees for this professional obligation. We sought to assess medical students’ attitudes toward advocacy, including activities and issues of interest, and to determine congruence with professional obligations. Methods A cross-sectional, web-based survey probed U.S. medical students’ attitudes around 7 medical issues (e.g. nutrition/obesity, addiction) and 11 determinants of health (e.g. housing, transportation). Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and regression analysis investigated associations with demographic characteristics. Results Of 240 students completing the survey, 53% were female; most were white (62%) or Asian (28%). Most agreed it is very important that physicians encourage medical organizations to advocate for public health (76%) and provide health-related expertise to the community (57%). More participants rated advocacy for medical issues as very important, compared to issues with indirect connections to health (p < 0.001). Generally, liberals and non-whites were likelier than others to value advocacy. Conclusions Medical students reported strong interest in advocacy, particularly around health issues, consistent with professional standards. Many attitudes were associated with political affiliation and race. To optimize future physician advocacy, educators should provide opportunities for learning and engagement in issues of interest.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02830-5Medical educationProfessional developmentPhysician advocacy |
| spellingShingle | Susan Chimonas Maha Mamoor Anna Kaltenboeck Deborah Korenstein The future of physician advocacy: a survey of U.S. medical students BMC Medical Education Medical education Professional development Physician advocacy |
| title | The future of physician advocacy: a survey of U.S. medical students |
| title_full | The future of physician advocacy: a survey of U.S. medical students |
| title_fullStr | The future of physician advocacy: a survey of U.S. medical students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The future of physician advocacy: a survey of U.S. medical students |
| title_short | The future of physician advocacy: a survey of U.S. medical students |
| title_sort | future of physician advocacy a survey of u s medical students |
| topic | Medical education Professional development Physician advocacy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02830-5 |
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