BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many medical schools have student-run free clinics (SRFCs), yet their educational value has not been well studied. We performed a one-time cross-sectional survey to assess medical student perceptions of the educational value of an SRFC at their institution. METHODS: The authors designed and validated a survey instrument including six statements on a 5-point Likert-scale. The questionnaire was distributed from February through May 2010 to all students enrolled at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine as part of a larger yearly, anonymous, internet-based survey regarding their experiences at the institution. RESULTS: The response rate was 66.5% with 347 of 522 eligible students participating. Ninety percent agreed or strongly agreed that the SRFC was a valuable educational experience, mean score: 4.51 on a scale of 5. Eighty-two percent agreed or strongly agreed that the teaching was excellent, mean score: 4.23. Students agreed or strongly agreed that the SRFC improved attitudes toward working with underserved patients (72%, mean score 3.99), helped students stay connected to sense of purpose, (71%, mean score 3.98), improved overall sense of well-being (67%, mean score 3.88), and influenced their decision to come to UCSD (52%, mean score 3.37). Eighty-four percent of qualitative responses in a free text comment box were positive (46 of 55). CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to report the perceptions of an entire medical student body of a SRFC at their institution. The majority felt that this was a valuable educational experience.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many medical schools have student-run free clinics (SRFCs), yet their educational value has not been well studied. We performed a one-time cross-sectional survey to assess medical student perceptions of the educational value of an SRFC at their institution. METHODS: The authors designed and validated a survey instrument including six statements on a 5-point Likert-scale. The questionnaire was distributed from February through May 2010 to all students enrolled at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine as part of a larger yearly, anonymous, internet-based survey regarding their experiences at the institution. RESULTS: The response rate was 66.5% with 347 of 522 eligible students participating. Ninety percent agreed or strongly agreed that the SRFC was a valuable educational experience, mean score: 4.51 on a scale of 5. Eighty-two percent agreed or strongly agreed that the teaching was excellent, mean score: 4.23. Students agreed or strongly agreed that the SRFC improved attitudes toward working with underserved patients (72%, mean score 3.99), helped students stay connected to sense of purpose, (71%, mean score 3.98), improved overall sense of well-being (67%, mean score 3.88), and influenced their decision to come to UCSD (52%, mean score 3.37). Eighty-four percent of qualitative responses in a free text comment box were positive (46 of 55). CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to report the perceptions of an entire medical student body of a SRFC at their institution. The majority felt that this was a valuable educational experience.
Authors: Tim Schutte; Jelle Tichelaar; Ramon S Dekker; Abel Thijs; Theo P G M de Vries; Rashmi A Kusurkar; Milan C Richir; Michiel A van Agtmael Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2017-01-25 Impact factor: 2.463
Authors: Maria Fröberg; Charlotte Leanderson; Birgitta Fläckman; Erik Hedman-Lagerlöf; Karin Björklund; Gunnar H Nilsson; Terese Stenfors Journal: Scand J Prim Health Care Date: 2018-01-25 Impact factor: 2.581
Authors: Ramon S Dekker; Tim Schutte; Jelle Tichelaar; Abel Thijs; Michiel A van Agtmael; Theo P G M de Vries; Milan C Richir Journal: Eur J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2015-08-14 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Tim Schutte; Jelle Tichelaar; Erik Donker; Milan C Richir; Michiel Westerman; Michiel A van Agtmael Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2018-10-26 Impact factor: 2.463