Transforming education for rural health equity: Lessons from a rural and underserved health scholars program.
Interprofessional
Pharmacy education
Pharmacy schools
Rural health
Rural nursing
Training program
Underserved
Journal
Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning
ISSN: 1877-1300
Titre abrégé: Curr Pharm Teach Learn
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101560815
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
18 Oct 2024
18 Oct 2024
Historique:
received:
22
05
2024
revised:
27
08
2024
accepted:
04
10
2024
medline:
19
10
2024
pubmed:
19
10
2024
entrez:
19
10
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Rural and underserved areas are in desperate need of improved access to healthcare services to enhance the well-being of patients. In an effort to increase students' healthcare access and exposure to the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in this area, a specialized certificate program on the care of rural and underserved patients was created. The purpose of this article is to describe the design, implementation, and assessment of this program. The Rural and Underserved Health Scholars Program (RUHSP) is offered to pharmacy and nursing students in the last three years of their professional program with 4 seminar courses and practice experiences in rural and underserved care. Students focus on challenges and opportunities in rural and underserved care, project development, health outcomes, leadership development, community service, and professional service. The culmination of the project is a community-based project the students develop in conjunction with a local agency. The RUHSP has successfully recruited 4 cohorts of students, totaling 42 participants. RUHSP participants have designed and implemented 13 community-based research projects through the program. Preliminary pre/post survey results indicate the program impacted participants' knowledge, skills, abilities, confidence, readiness, and interest in rural/underserved settings. Participants completing the program indicated the program was highly valued and impactful. Rural and underserved areas have a continued need for enhanced healthcare access and quality care; rural health training programs are one way to fill care gaps in these areas with confident, prepared, and passionate providers.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
OBJECTIVE
Rural and underserved areas are in desperate need of improved access to healthcare services to enhance the well-being of patients. In an effort to increase students' healthcare access and exposure to the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in this area, a specialized certificate program on the care of rural and underserved patients was created. The purpose of this article is to describe the design, implementation, and assessment of this program.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING
METHODS
The Rural and Underserved Health Scholars Program (RUHSP) is offered to pharmacy and nursing students in the last three years of their professional program with 4 seminar courses and practice experiences in rural and underserved care. Students focus on challenges and opportunities in rural and underserved care, project development, health outcomes, leadership development, community service, and professional service. The culmination of the project is a community-based project the students develop in conjunction with a local agency.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
The RUHSP has successfully recruited 4 cohorts of students, totaling 42 participants. RUHSP participants have designed and implemented 13 community-based research projects through the program. Preliminary pre/post survey results indicate the program impacted participants' knowledge, skills, abilities, confidence, readiness, and interest in rural/underserved settings. Participants completing the program indicated the program was highly valued and impactful.
SUMMARY
CONCLUSIONS
Rural and underserved areas have a continued need for enhanced healthcare access and quality care; rural health training programs are one way to fill care gaps in these areas with confident, prepared, and passionate providers.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39426013
pii: S1877-1297(24)00245-4
doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2024.102213
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
102213Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest or financial relations.