Evaluation of pediatric community field trips

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatrics
• Community Health

Background:

• Pediatric clerkships are crucial for medical students' development.
• Exposure to diverse patient populations, including those with disabilities, enhances clinical training.
• Community-based learning offers unique perspectives on child healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a field trip program on junior medical students' understanding and attitudes towards caring for normal and handicapped children.
• To assess the educational and emotional benefits of community-based pediatric experiences.
• To determine if student demographics influenced the program's effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A field trip program integrated into a pediatric clinical clerkship.
• Pre- and post-trip surveys administered to junior medical students.
• Evaluation of changes in student knowledge and attitudes regarding child care.

Main Results:

• The field trip program led to a general positive change in students' knowledge and attitudes.
• Demographic factors like sex or prior experience did not significantly affect the outcomes.
• Subjective evaluations revealed students developed more insightful and compassionate judgments.

Conclusions:

• The field trip program served as a valuable component of the pediatric clerkship, meeting students' educational and emotional needs.
• While not statistically significant, the program fostered increased knowledge and sensitivity towards children with disabilities.
• The experience is expected to benefit students, healthcare professionals, and families in the long term.