Identifying and Addressing Basic Needs Insecurity Among Medical Students: A Curriculum for Trainees, Administrators,...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Student Well-being
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Basic needs insecurity significantly impacts postsecondary students' educational experiences.
• Limited data exist on basic needs insecurity specifically among medical trainees.
• Addressing student basic needs is crucial for academic success and retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance awareness and understanding of basic needs insecurity among medical students.
• To introduce national and local resources available to address basic needs.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational workshop on this topic.

Main Methods:

• A 60-minute interactive workshop was developed, including a presentation and case discussions.
• Participants completed pre- and post-workshop questionnaires to assess knowledge and attitudes.
• A basic needs survey and resource guides were incorporated into the workshop.

Main Results:

• The workshop engaged 61 diverse participants, including students, faculty, and staff.
• Post-workshop assessments showed significant increases in knowledge regarding basic needs insecurity.
• Participants reported high satisfaction with the workshop's interactive format and provided resources.

Conclusions:

• This workshop serves as a foundational step in recognizing and addressing basic needs insecurity in medical trainees.
• It highlights the need for a cross-departmental strategy to assess and resolve these issues.
• Widespread implementation can drive institutional change to better support student basic needs.