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Using a structural competency framework to teach structural racism in pre-health education
Jonathan M Metzl1, JuLeigh Petty1, Oluwatunmise V Olowojoba2
1Center for Medicine, Health, and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|July 11, 2017
Summary
An interdisciplinary pre-health curriculum focusing on structural competency significantly improved students' ability to analyze how social factors impact health outcomes. This approach better prepares future healthcare professionals for real-world health disparities.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Pre-health programs traditionally focus on science, often overlooking social determinants of health.
- Structural competency training aims to equip future healthcare professionals with skills to address health inequities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary "Medicine, Health, and Society" (MHS) curriculum with a traditional premedical curriculum.
- To evaluate students' understanding of how structural factors influence health outcomes and disparities.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study using the "Structural Foundations of Health Survey" was conducted.
- MHS majors (n=185) were compared with traditional pre-med science majors (n=63) and freshmen (n=91).
- Data collection occurred between August 2015 and December 2016.
Main Results:
- MHS majors demonstrated superior ability to identify and analyze the relationship between structural factors and health outcomes.
- MHS students showed a deeper understanding of implicit racism, structural racism, and health disparities.
- These findings align with the skills emphasized by the MCAT and AAMC.
Conclusions:
- An interdisciplinary, structural competency-based curriculum enhances students' analytical skills regarding social determinants of health.
- This educational model better prepares future healthcare professionals to address complex health issues and disparities.
- Structural competency training is crucial for developing a nuanced understanding of health and illness in diverse populations.