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Matriculants' compliance with a required preventive health program
A H Herold1, R G Roetzheim, R J Pamies
1Department of Family Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612-3799.
Summary
Medical student compliance with health requirements improved with enforcement measures. Cost significantly impacts adherence, suggesting institutions should cover expenses or implement stricter compliance strategies.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Numerous organizations provide health recommendations for medical students.
- Assessing adherence to these guidelines is crucial for student well-being and program integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the University of South Florida College of Medicine's compliance with established medical student health guidelines.
- To compare compliance rates before and after the implementation of new enforcement measures.
Main Methods:
- A prospective analytic study was conducted comparing the 1990 entering medical student class with the 1989 class as a control.
- The 1990 cohort faced new requirements including physical exams, specific immunizations (rubella, rubeola, tetanus-diphtheria, hepatitis B), chickenpox immunity, and health insurance proof.
Main Results:
- In 2020, lower compliance was observed for expensive health requirements, while inexpensive ones showed higher adherence.
- Enforcement measures significantly boosted compliance for costly requirements and those necessitating updates.
- A notable increase in compliance was seen for requirements that students had to pay for out-of-pocket.
Conclusions:
- Financial cost is a primary barrier to medical student compliance with health mandates.
- Medical institutions should consider implementing effective enforcement strategies or subsidizing student health costs to enhance compliance rates.