Social Determinants of Health Curriculum for the Pediatric Clerkship

Education on social determinants of health (SDH) aligns with national standards for medical education. However, there are minimal existing resources targeted to medical students specific to the care of the pediatric population. We designed a case-based curriculum on SDH for third-year medical students on their pediatric clerkship to address this deficit.

Third-year medical students on their pediatric clerkship received a case-based flipped classroom educational series on SDH in four 10-minute segments. Students completed voluntary and anonymous surveys delivered via an electronic survey tool before and after completion of the curriculum. Surveys were a self-assessment of knowledge and skills related to SDH in pediatrics and analysis of a pediatric case.

One hundred sixty-seven third-year medical students completed the curriculum during their pediatric clerkship. Pre- and postsurvey response rates were 50% and 39%, respectively, for the self-assessment and 51% and 38%, respectively, for the case analysis components of the survey. Students demonstrated statistically significant improvement in knowledge and skills regarding SDH. After completion of the curriculum, students were more likely to identify SDH as factors contributing to the patient's health status and to propose questions targeted at SDH they would ask the patient or family when presented with a pediatric case.

A case-based curriculum on SDH using a multisession flipped classroom approach advanced student knowledge and skills regarding SDH in the pediatric context. The curriculum has the potential for expansion to other institutions and to serve as a model for other subspecialties.