Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical Years
Introduction While medical school curricula increasingly address health disparities, content regarding health care for persons impacted by incarceration is a persistent and notable gap. There is a high burden of disease among incarcerated populations, and health care challenges continue postincarcer...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association of American Medical Colleges
2020-11-01
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| Series: | MedEdPORTAL |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11014 |
| _version_ | 1818825017034539008 |
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| author | Julia Gips Alina Spiegel Alexandra Norton Priyal Gandhi Dylan Hardenbergh John Gatti Laura Pugh Amanda Jones Carolyn Sufrin |
| author_facet | Julia Gips Alina Spiegel Alexandra Norton Priyal Gandhi Dylan Hardenbergh John Gatti Laura Pugh Amanda Jones Carolyn Sufrin |
| author_sort | Julia Gips |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction While medical school curricula increasingly address health disparities, content regarding health care for persons impacted by incarceration is a persistent and notable gap. There is a high burden of disease among incarcerated populations, and health care challenges continue postincarceration. We developed a course to introduce medical students to the current landscape of mass incarceration in the US and implications for health and health care delivery to people impacted by this system. Methods We developed a 3.5-hour elective course taken by 19 first-year medical students in its first year and 20 students in its second. The course utilized lecture, case-based discussion, and guest speaker modalities to introduce students to the history of mass incarceration, health care delivery within the carceral system, and challenges in accessing care during and following incarceration. Results Students received two surveys after completing the course. In the first, 100% of respondents reported outstanding, excellent, or good levels of satisfaction with various elective components, including organization, learning activities, and student discussion. The second found significant increases in knowledge about mass incarceration and incarceration health issues, in addition to significant increases in interest in advocating or providing health care for incarcerated populations. Discussion Given current mass incarceration practices, students will encounter patients impacted by this system. This elective course sought to better prepare students to effectively care for these patients. We were limited by time availability, and future directions include incorporating a standardized patient exercise, trauma-informed care principles, and providers working within the carceral system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:05:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-439f41990e2e4ce8825bc3844f3d0ac3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2374-8265 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:05:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MedEdPORTAL |
| spelling | doaj.art-439f41990e2e4ce8825bc3844f3d0ac32022-12-21T20:46:16ZengAssociation of American Medical CollegesMedEdPORTAL2374-82652020-11-011610.15766/mep_2374-8265.11014Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical YearsJulia Gips0Alina Spiegel1Alexandra Norton2Priyal Gandhi3Dylan Hardenbergh4John Gatti5Laura Pugh6Amanda Jones7Carolyn Sufrin8Medical Student, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineMedical Student, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineMedical Student, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineMedical Student, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineMedical Student, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineMedical Student, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineMedical Student, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineMedical Student, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineAssistant Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Associate Director, Fellowship in Family Planning, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineIntroduction While medical school curricula increasingly address health disparities, content regarding health care for persons impacted by incarceration is a persistent and notable gap. There is a high burden of disease among incarcerated populations, and health care challenges continue postincarceration. We developed a course to introduce medical students to the current landscape of mass incarceration in the US and implications for health and health care delivery to people impacted by this system. Methods We developed a 3.5-hour elective course taken by 19 first-year medical students in its first year and 20 students in its second. The course utilized lecture, case-based discussion, and guest speaker modalities to introduce students to the history of mass incarceration, health care delivery within the carceral system, and challenges in accessing care during and following incarceration. Results Students received two surveys after completing the course. In the first, 100% of respondents reported outstanding, excellent, or good levels of satisfaction with various elective components, including organization, learning activities, and student discussion. The second found significant increases in knowledge about mass incarceration and incarceration health issues, in addition to significant increases in interest in advocating or providing health care for incarcerated populations. Discussion Given current mass incarceration practices, students will encounter patients impacted by this system. This elective course sought to better prepare students to effectively care for these patients. We were limited by time availability, and future directions include incorporating a standardized patient exercise, trauma-informed care principles, and providers working within the carceral system.http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11014IncarcerationHealth CareDisparityPrisonPreclinicalDiversity |
| spellingShingle | Julia Gips Alina Spiegel Alexandra Norton Priyal Gandhi Dylan Hardenbergh John Gatti Laura Pugh Amanda Jones Carolyn Sufrin Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical Years MedEdPORTAL Incarceration Health Care Disparity Prison Preclinical Diversity |
| title | Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical Years |
| title_full | Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical Years |
| title_fullStr | Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical Years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical Years |
| title_short | Health Care in the Age of Mass Incarceration: A Selective Course for Medical Students in Their Preclinical Years |
| title_sort | health care in the age of mass incarceration a selective course for medical students in their preclinical years |
| topic | Incarceration Health Care Disparity Prison Preclinical Diversity |
| url | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11014 |
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