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The Effect of a Mock Medical Visit on Refugee Health Self-Efficacy and Medical Trainee Communication Apprehension
Gabriel N De Vela1,2, Caitlin Kaeppler1, Sonia B Mehta1,3
1Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Introduction:
As refugees adjust to a new country, their health care can take a toll. Refugees may have difficulty navigating a new health care system and experience low health self-efficacy. Another potential contributor is inadequate medical trainee curriculum addressing refugee health.
Methods:
We devised simulated clinic experiences called mock medical visits. Surveys were utilized before and after the mock medical visits to assess the Health Self-Efficacy Scale for refugees and the Personal Report of Intercultural Communication Apprehension for trainees.
Results:
Health Self-Efficacy Scale scores increased from 13.67 to 15.47 (P = 0.08, n = 15). Personal Report of Intercultural Communication Apprehension scores decreased from 27.1 to 25.4 (P = 0.40, n = 10).
Discussion:
While our study did not reach statistical significance, the overall trends suggest mock medical visits can be a valuable tool to increase health self-efficacy in refugee community members and decrease intercultural communication apprehension in medical trainees.
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