U.S. Medical Student Knowledge and Interest in Asylum Seeker Medical Care

Abstract

Background Asylum seekers face significant and unique healthcare challenges, requiring healthcare practitioners specifically trained in caring for this patient population. However, there is limited understanding of medical students’ interest in and future ability to care for the population of asylum seekers in the United States. We aim to better understand U.S. medical students’ interest, experience, and knowledge in providing care for asylum seekers to inspire change in the ways in which medical schools introduce asylum seeker care to learners. Methods A 23-question survey was administered to U.S. medical students at four institutions with asylum programs affiliated with Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) from June 2020 to March 2021, querying various aspects of providing care to asylum seekers. Results Of the approximately 2846 students who received the survey, 436 students (15%) completed it in its entirety. Most respondents desired training about caring for asylum seekers (91%). Over half (52%) rated their knowledge of asylum issues overall as “poor” or “none," and 73% thought their medical school's curriculum on asylum seeker health needed improvement. Conclusion This study demonstrated that medical students at schools with affiliated asylum clinics desire to care for asylum patients but feel unprepared to do so, highlighting an unmet need for formal asylum education in U.S. medical schools.