Participation of medical students in prevention actions: first year of implementation in France

Abstract

Abstract Background Prevention has become an essential part of the health policy in France. Since the autumn 2018, medical students, as well as students in midwifery and paramedics, are required to take part in prevention actions in population. This prevention training is mandatory and aims to increase the number of prevention actions in population and to sensitize medical students to the importance of prevention. National guidelines were published to guide the implementation of this training. Objectives: This communication aims to describe the implementation of this prevention training in the medical school of University Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France. Results A total of 155 students in third year of medical school were included in the training (2018/2019). The first step was the creation of e-learnings in 9 domains related to prevention: prevention policy in France, communication, project management, addictions, nutrition, physical activity, sexual education, prevention for the children and prevention for the elderly. They were elaborated by medical doctors of different specialties, public health professionals, nurses, and physiotherapists. The second step was the recruitment of voluntary settings to perform prevention acitons. They were mainly schools (n = 24), but also institutions for disabled children or adults (n = 8), health forums (n = 4), the university health center and the local center for social reintegration of young people. The types of actions performed by the students will be presented at the conference. Conclusions Preliminary results indicate a positive feedback from both the students and the voluntary settings. At this stage, recommendations for the future can already be drawn, such as the inclusion of specific training sessions to lead group sessions of various ages or interdisciplinarity in the actions. Key messages The participation of medical students to prevention actions in population has become mandatory in France. Voluntary settings were mainly schools, but also institutions for disabled children or adults.