Using Design Thinking to Explore Rural Experiential Education Barriers and Opportunities

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Rural Health
• Creative Problem-Solving Frameworks

Background:

• Design thinking offers a framework for understanding and solving challenges in health professions education.
• Rural education experiences present unique challenges for student placement and retention.
• These challenges impact students, healthcare providers, and patients in rural settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers to student placement in rural health professions education using a design thinking framework.
• To explore user perspectives (students, practitioners, administrators) on rural educational experiences.
• To generate solutions for improving rural placement opportunities.

Main Methods:

• A design thinking framework was employed, incorporating empathy-building and problem-definition strategies.
• Data collection involved focus groups, interviews, and a design thinking workshop.
• Qualitative data analysis focused on identifying barriers and support opportunities for rural placements.

Main Results:

• Participants highlighted advantages like diverse patient exposure and reduced bureaucracy, alongside disadvantages such as isolation and housing issues.
• Physical, emotional, and social isolation emerged as significant barriers to student interest and engagement in rural settings.
• Over 100 potential solutions for addressing isolation were generated during the workshop.

Conclusions:

• Design thinking effectively explores challenges in health professions education, including rural placements.
• Physical, social, and emotional isolation are critical barriers to rural student placements.
• Findings can inform the development of support systems for rural educational experiences, benefiting students, preceptors, and communities.