Interprofessional Student Perceptions of Planning and Implementing a Student-led, Faculty-guided Rural Health Clinic

Abstract

Purpose:To develop an interprofessional student-led, faculty-guided clinic in a rural, medically underserved area in Wisconsin through applying an existing innovative clinical education model.A local university provides a system for training and practice of interprofessional students in a rural community increasing access to preventive health care to individuals and families in rural medically underserved communities. The primary aim of the project was to qualitatively describe perceptions of interprofessional students after completing community assessment, planning, and implementation phases and secondarily to understand student learning experiences in adopting and leading a community model within a rural practice setting.Sample: Participants were interprofessional undergraduate and graduate students placed within an interprofessional clinical education model for an assigned clinical, field, or practicum rotation (n=64).

Learning Outcomes from Participation in Student-Run Health Clinics: A Systematic Review

“… Bostick (2014) 69 Focus groups ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Campbell et al (2013) 23 SS one-on-one interviews ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Chen et al (2014) 26 SS one-on-one interviews ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Frakes et al (2014) 39 Structured interview ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ X ? Frie et al (2021) 62 Open-ended questions ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Guirguis et al (2011) 80 SS one-on-one interviews ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Hamilton (2020) 41 SS one-on-one interviews ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ …”

“…The third most frequently reported learning outcome associated with SRC participation revolved around empathy/compassion for underserved individuals (n = 34), 15 , 18 , 25 , 27–29 , 42 , 53 , 55 , 57 , 59 , 62 , 75 , 83–87 in particular improving attitudes towards, 15 , 18 , 25 , 28 , 34 , 88 as well as awareness and understanding and of the needs and social reality of, the underserved. 19 , 22 , 29 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 55 , 57 , 59 , 60 , 62 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 75 , 76 , 82 , 84 , 86 , 89–92 Though one study reported no change in overall attitudes towards homeless patients. 93 Finally, improved skills working with indigenous populations were noted as a learning outcome in one study.…”

“…Leadership was another commonly reported outcome (n = 15). In particular, SRC participation was consistently found to benefit student’s capacity to lead, including gaining leadership experience and developing leadership skills, 30 , 33 , 41 , 58 , 60 , 62 , 75 , 95 , 96 as well as experience and confidence teaching other students (ie, peer teaching). 20 , 36 , 56 , 59 , 97 …”

Developing Cultural Humility Through an Interprofessional Clinical Education Experience

“…The timing of this experience for learning was opportune, despite the challenges it created. Frie et al 14 report the importance of team communication within interprofessional teams in enhancing collaboration of health profession students. Internship students in this experience quickly learned how to collaborate and work as a team in virtual ways.…”

“…Student-led teams find the importance of their own leadership opportunities while assessing their community needs. 14 Throughout the time of this work, community partners continued to reach out, asking for help to provide their patrons with basic human needs; the most important to them, connection. This ongoing demand required the student teams to effectively work together to deliver innovative service.…”