Abstract
Purpose:The number of global health opportunities offered to medical students has increased over the past 20 years. Recognizing the growing prevalence of these experiences, a number of studies have shown that these types of exposures have a significant impact on medical students’ education. However, there is a paucity of literature on the educational impacts of short-term domestic service-learning trips, which can be more accessible due to fewer logistical and financial barriers. This mixed-methods qualitative/quantitative study aims to understand the impact of a domestic one-week service learning program on medical students’ educational development and career choices.Methods:The authors conducted a qualitative analysis of journal entries written by a cohort of students during a domestic weeklong service trip. They also administered a survey to all students who had participated in the program between 2009–2016.Results:In 88.6% (n = 31) of the journal entries, students reported learning about border town life, Native American health, and rural medical practice. In 42.8% (n = 15) of entries, participants described experiences they felt would impact their future medical career decisions. The students’ reflections also revealed implicit benefits such as becoming aware of privilege within society (n = 14, 40.0%). The majority of survey respondents reported that the trip improved their medical education and influenced the field and location of their future/current practice.Conclusion:This study suggests that domestic short-term service-learning trips impact medical students’ immediate educational development and may influence their future career plans. Further investigation into the local community’s perceptions of this service-learning trip will provide greater understanding of the impact on all involved.
Highlights
The proportion of US medical schools providing students with opportunities for global health training has increased three-fold in the last two decades, from 22.0% in 1991 to 61.0% in 2008 [1, 2]
Recognizing the growing prevalence of these experiences, there have been a number of studies that have investigated their educational impact
A study of residents who participated on global health service trips while in medical school reported that these experiences have a prolonged positive impact on their cultural competence, adaptability, and communication skills [9]
Summary
The proportion of US medical schools providing students with opportunities for global health training has increased three-fold in the last two decades, from 22.0% in 1991 to 61.0% in 2008 [1, 2]. Recognizing the growing prevalence of these experiences, there have been a number of studies that have investigated their educational impact These studies have shown that global health experiences enhance students’ clinical knowledge, increase awareness of the social determinants of health, and alter their career trajectories [3,4,5,6,7,8]. Medical students who are interested in global health may not have the ability to travel internationally or participate in service-learning trips longer than one week for a variety of reasons. Participation in these short-term servicelearning domestic trips may be their only opportunity to pursue global health interests while meeting their other requirements. This study only evaluated the impact of oneweek service-learning trips outside the US and its findings may not be generalizable to all one-week service-learning trips, especially those that are domestic [10]
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