Medical Student Attitudes Toward the Medically Underserved: The USU Perspective

ABSTRACT This study examined a cohort of students attending the Uniformed Services University regarding their attitudes toward medical care in underserved populations. Using the previously validated Medical Student Attitudes Toward the Underserved (MSATU), repeated measures analysis of variance showed that student attitudes toward care in underserved populations was less favorable than limited national data at entry and declined over time (Mean MSATU total score Year 1: 46.2 [SD 10.95]; Year 4: 41.7 [SD 12.3] p < 0.01). Differences in medical school debt, exposure to underserved populations, and the definition of “service” in the context of active duty military status might explain some of our findings. Providing broad service learning opportunities within the curriculum could increase student exposure to underserved populations and strengthen the social contract between community and institution.

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Required Longitudinal Service-Learning and Its Effects on Medical Students’ Attitudes Toward the Underserved

Medical Science Educator ◽

10.1007/s40670-021-01350-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Monica Rose Arebalos ◽

Faun Lee Botor ◽

Edward Simanton ◽

Jennifer Young

Keyword(s):

Medical Education ◽

Medical Students ◽

Service Learning ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Underserved Populations ◽

Preclinical Phase ◽

School Of Medicine ◽

Students Attitudes ◽

Medical Student Attitudes ◽

The University

AbstractAlthough medical students enter medicine with altruistic motives and seek to serve indigent populations, studies show that medical students’ attitudes towards the undeserved tend to worsen significantly as they go through their medical education. This finding emphasizes the need for medical educators to implement activities such as service-learning that may help mitigate this negative trend.All students at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Medicine are required to participate in longitudinal service-learning throughout medical school, and a majority of students interact with the underserved at their service-learning sites. Using the previously validated Medical Student Attitudes Towards the Underserved (MSATU), independent sample T-tests showed that students who interact with underserved populations at their sites scored with significantly better attitudes towards the underserved at the end of their preclinical phase. Subjects included 58 medical students with 100% taking the MSATU. This result indicates that longitudinal service-learning, particularly when it includes interaction with the underserved, can be one method to combat the worsening of medical students’ attitudes as they complete their medical education.

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Surgery service learning in preclinical years improves medical student attitudes toward surgery, clinical confidence, and social determinants of health screening

The American Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.11.010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 219 (2) ◽

pp. 346-354

Author(s):

Megan G. Janeway ◽

Su Yeon Lee ◽

Elisa Caron ◽

Isabel K. Sausjord ◽

Lisa Allee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Student ◽

Service Learning ◽

Social Determinants Of Health ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Health Screening ◽

Determinants Of Health ◽

Clinical Confidence ◽

Medical Student Attitudes

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Medical student attitudes and actions that encourage teaching on surgery clerkships

The American Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.03.067 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Nguyen ◽

Tawni Johnston ◽

Hilary C. McCrary ◽

Candace Chow ◽

Chanta'l Babcock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Student ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Medical Student Attitudes

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A Qualitative Study of Medical Student Attitudes About Individualizing Diabetes Care in Vulnerable Elders

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jagp.2012.12.147 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. S110

Author(s):

Dean A. Sasaki ◽

Nancy Y. Takahashi ◽

Denise Feil

Keyword(s):

Medical Student ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Diabetes Care ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Medical Student Attitudes

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Survey of Medical Student Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Death

PsycTESTS Dataset ◽

10.1037/t69101-000 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Eli Xavier Bator ◽

Bethany Philpott ◽

Andrew Paul Costa

Keyword(s):

Medical Student ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Assisted Death ◽

Medical Student Attitudes

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Students' Perceptions of Older Adults: Effects of a Service-Learning Experience

Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work ◽

10.18084/basw.19.1.64370943687111r0 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. S-59-S-72

Author(s):

Heather Kanenberg ◽

Susan Mapp ◽

Rustin Dudley ◽

Margaret McFarland

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Service Learning ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Learning Experience ◽

Method Comparison ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

The Social ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Attitudes Toward Older Adults ◽

Cultural Shifts

Previous literature has established an improvement in student attitudes toward older adults after a service- learning experience with this population. This study furthered the research by conducting a mixed- method comparison group study with a sample of 151 traditional- aged BSW students. Both groups increased in positive perceptions toward older adults on the Polizzi's (2003) refined Aging Semantic Differential Scale, and there was no significant difference between them. Qualitative results specific to those working with seniors suggest that students either improved or maintained positive attitudes toward this population. Therefore service learning may not need to be specific to this population to improve attitudes but does assist in reinforcing classroom material. Findings illustrate a need for further study of the overall impact of the social work curriculum as well as possible cultural shifts in attitudes toward older adults.

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