Beyond the Basics: A Novel Approach to Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum into an Emergency Medicine Course
Background: Our aim was to implement and evaluate a novel social determinants of health (SDoH) curriculum into the required fourth-year emergency medicine (EM) course at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine with the goal to teach students how to assess and address SDoH in clinical pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1tg6d7v4 |
| _version_ | 1827386572205457408 |
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| author | Nikkole J. Turgeon Katherine Dolbec Florence On Erica Lash Emily Reed Kateline Wallace Adam Fortune Katie M. Wells |
| author_facet | Nikkole J. Turgeon Katherine Dolbec Florence On Erica Lash Emily Reed Kateline Wallace Adam Fortune Katie M. Wells |
| author_sort | Nikkole J. Turgeon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Our aim was to implement and evaluate a novel social determinants of health (SDoH) curriculum into the required fourth-year emergency medicine (EM) course at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine with the goal to teach students how to assess and address SDoH in clinical practice. The objectives were as follows: 1. Assess the SDoH, risk factors, and barriers to healthcare facing patients from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds in the ED. 2. Examine how social work consult services operate in the ED setting and how to identify appropriate referrals, resources, and treatment plans for patients in the ED. 3. Examine and interpret the impact health disparities have on patients in the ED and develop potential solutions to reduce these disparities to improve health outcomes. 4. Analyze the experiences and lessons learned and use them to inform future patient interactions. Curricular Design: The curriculum was developed by a workgroup that considered the following: scope; target learners; overall structure; instructional and delivery methods; and session scheduling. The curriculum consisted of four components that took place over the four-week EM course. Students completed a required end-of-course survey. Survey results underwent a mixed-methods analysis to assess student attitudes and the impact of the curriculum. Impact/Effectiveness: We received a 78.7% (74/94) completion rate for the 2021-2022 academic year. Of all respondents, 92% (68/74) indicated that they would apply lessons learned from the SDoH components of the curriculum; 74% (54/74) rated the SDoH curriculum as good, very good, or excellent; and 81% (60/74) felt that the EM course increased their understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to the practice of medicine. The thematic analyses revealed four main themes: 1) general comments; 2) course design; 3) interprofessional collaboration; and 4) expanding the scope of the curriculum. Conclusion: Social medicine integration into core EM courses is a generalizable approach to experiential and collaborative exposure to the social determinants of health. Of student respondents, 92% indicated they will use lessons learned from this curriculum in their future practice. This can improve the way future generations of physicians identify SDoH and address the social needs that affect their patients, thereby advancing and promoting health equity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:47:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f07d0c948f6d48ca9b989cb7b9891ec5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1936-900X 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:47:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-f07d0c948f6d48ca9b989cb7b9891ec52024-01-09T10:34:55ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-900X1936-90182023-10-012461094110310.5811/westjem.5979759797Beyond the Basics: A Novel Approach to Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum into an Emergency Medicine CourseNikkole J. Turgeon0Katherine Dolbec1Florence On2Erica Lash3Emily Reed4Kateline Wallace5Adam Fortune6Katie M. Wells7Boston Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsUniversity of Vermont Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Burlington VermontUniversity of Vermont Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Burlington VermontUniversity of Vermont Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Burlington VermontUniversity of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VermontUniversity of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VermontUniversity of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VermontUniversity of Vermont Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Burlington VermontBackground: Our aim was to implement and evaluate a novel social determinants of health (SDoH) curriculum into the required fourth-year emergency medicine (EM) course at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine with the goal to teach students how to assess and address SDoH in clinical practice. The objectives were as follows: 1. Assess the SDoH, risk factors, and barriers to healthcare facing patients from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds in the ED. 2. Examine how social work consult services operate in the ED setting and how to identify appropriate referrals, resources, and treatment plans for patients in the ED. 3. Examine and interpret the impact health disparities have on patients in the ED and develop potential solutions to reduce these disparities to improve health outcomes. 4. Analyze the experiences and lessons learned and use them to inform future patient interactions. Curricular Design: The curriculum was developed by a workgroup that considered the following: scope; target learners; overall structure; instructional and delivery methods; and session scheduling. The curriculum consisted of four components that took place over the four-week EM course. Students completed a required end-of-course survey. Survey results underwent a mixed-methods analysis to assess student attitudes and the impact of the curriculum. Impact/Effectiveness: We received a 78.7% (74/94) completion rate for the 2021-2022 academic year. Of all respondents, 92% (68/74) indicated that they would apply lessons learned from the SDoH components of the curriculum; 74% (54/74) rated the SDoH curriculum as good, very good, or excellent; and 81% (60/74) felt that the EM course increased their understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to the practice of medicine. The thematic analyses revealed four main themes: 1) general comments; 2) course design; 3) interprofessional collaboration; and 4) expanding the scope of the curriculum. Conclusion: Social medicine integration into core EM courses is a generalizable approach to experiential and collaborative exposure to the social determinants of health. Of student respondents, 92% indicated they will use lessons learned from this curriculum in their future practice. This can improve the way future generations of physicians identify SDoH and address the social needs that affect their patients, thereby advancing and promoting health equity.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1tg6d7v4 |
| spellingShingle | Nikkole J. Turgeon Katherine Dolbec Florence On Erica Lash Emily Reed Kateline Wallace Adam Fortune Katie M. Wells Beyond the Basics: A Novel Approach to Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum into an Emergency Medicine Course Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| title | Beyond the Basics: A Novel Approach to Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum into an Emergency Medicine Course |
| title_full | Beyond the Basics: A Novel Approach to Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum into an Emergency Medicine Course |
| title_fullStr | Beyond the Basics: A Novel Approach to Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum into an Emergency Medicine Course |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond the Basics: A Novel Approach to Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum into an Emergency Medicine Course |
| title_short | Beyond the Basics: A Novel Approach to Integrating a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum into an Emergency Medicine Course |
| title_sort | beyond the basics a novel approach to integrating a social determinants of health curriculum into an emergency medicine course |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1tg6d7v4 |
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