Using Mobile Health Clinics to Reach College Students: A National Demonstration Project

Abstract

Background: The mobile health unit (MHU) was a grant-funded national initiative to explore the utilization of a mobile clinic to provide health promotion and clinical services for college students in the United States. Purpose: In 2010 and 2011, a 38-foot mobile clinic tested the feasibility of utilizing the clinic to deliver health promotion and clinical services to students on and off campus. Methods: Undergraduate peer educators, supervised by 2 certified health education specialists, provided health promotion at night (9:00 PM to midnight) near bars and restaurants. Clinical services provided on the mobile clinic included influenza vaccinations administered by nursing students. HIV antibody testing was also piloted. Results: The mobile clinic was utilized for health promotion and clinical services (N ¼ 1561) at the pilot university. Discussion and Translation to Health Education Practice: Replication of this project could include additional health promotion and clinical services. Mobile clinics could possibly serve unmet health needs on regional campuses, and this merits further investigation. This project supports university administrators exploring the use of mobile health services in different locations on college campuses and in communities.