Dr. Me project: Teaching children self-care for self-limiting illnesses in primary schools

With increasing demand on general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs), patient empowerment for appropriate self-care and inspiring medical careers is vital to sustaining the NHS. Dr. Me trains doctors and medical students to teach primary school children how to self-care for common self-limiting illnesses.

Volunteers delivered 1-hour Dr. Me sessions in schools, covering workshops on vomiting and diarrhoea; sore throat and fever; and minor and head injuries. Six case scenarios were asked at the beginning and end of the session, and children decided whether to stay home, visit the GP or attend the ED. Responses before and after were compared. A feedback questionnaire gauged confidence in self-care and interest in medical careers.

Dr. Me taught 216 children. Correct responses after the sessions improved by 16.3% (p<0.00001). Vomiting scenarios improved from 48.1% to 68.8%, sore throat from 63.9% to 87.5%, and minor injuries from 84.7% to 89.4%. Feedback showed 93.3% felt more confident in self-care and 56.9% were more interested in medicine.

Participating in the Dr. Me project can improve primary school children's knowledge in self-care and increase their confidence in managing self-limiting conditions. Dr. Me also increased children's interest in becoming doctors which can benefit widening participation activities.