Health promotion projects: skill and attitude learning for medical students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Health Promotion

Background:

• Third-year medical students at Monash University are introduced to health promotion concepts.
• Standardized procedures ensure scientific and ethical appropriateness of projects.
• The course addresses scientific, political, and ethical issues of doctors in health promotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To equip students with knowledge, skills, and attitudes in health promotion strategies.
• To provide hands-on experience in health promotion activities.
• To foster consideration of the broader implications of doctors' involvement in public health.

Main Methods:

• Students work in self-selected groups of 3-5 for a major learning and assessment component.
• Groups develop, execute, and report on community health promotion projects.
• Project outcomes are presented as posters and written reports.

Main Results:

• Sixty percent of the unit mark is based on student projects.
• Posters are publicly displayed in a hospital, showcasing diverse health promotion activities.
• This display promotes health promotion as a scientific discipline and disseminates findings.

Conclusions:

• Student evaluations and community feedback highlight the project's effectiveness.
• The project serves as a valuable learning experience for medical students.
• The initiative functions as a health-promoting activity in its own right.