Abstract
Service-Learning is an educational methodology that allows student learning while addressing community needs. A program in microbiology and infectious diseases was implemented in Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. University lecturers, clinical microbiologists, doctorate students, and undergraduates from several Bachelor Degrees and courses worked in an interdisciplinary team along with social institutions that attend disadvantaged persons. Using commercial movies that deal with infectious diseases, the students learn clinical microbiology, prepare divulgation materials, visit social centers to accompany, and help others to know about illnesses and prevention. The program was developed through two academic years and involved 58 voluntary students, 13 teachers and tutors, and 4 social entities as community partners. Postsurvey evaluation of the program revealed a highly satisfactory achievement of goals: acquiring scientific and personal competencies by university students, including critical analysis and science diffusion, solving problems or collaborative team working, and contributing, together with the tutors, to the social responsibility of the university.
Highlights
Disadvantaged or underserved persons have the same infectious diseases as the general population, they are disproportionately affected by higher rates of acute and chronic illnesses (Grief and Miller, 2017)
We describe the implementation of an S-L program, based on microbiology and infectious diseases at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, with students from Bachelor Degrees in Biology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacy
Service-Learning initiatives focused on clinical microbiology are usually included as a part of Public Health actions for Nursing or Medicine courses (Larios-Sanz et al, 2011; Abu-Shakra, 2012; Cain, 2013; Stewart and Wubbena, 2014), but they are less used in Bachelor Degrees in Sciences
Summary
Disadvantaged or underserved persons have the same infectious diseases as the general population, they are disproportionately affected by higher rates of acute and chronic illnesses (Grief and Miller, 2017). Several studies in different developed countries recorded an almost 10-fold higher incidence of HIV infection, tuberculosis, and other respiratory infections, or Hepatitis B and C in homeless people when compared to general populations Infections and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) affect other groups at risk of social exclusion, i.e., sex workers, intravenous drug addicts, immigrants, or imprisoned (Tornero et al, 2016; Grief and Miller, 2017; Wirtz et al, 2018; FrancoParedes et al, 2020). Broadening the concept of health systems as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2007), university members, teachers, and students together with offcampus partners could collaborate to promote heath at local level through well addressed interventions
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