Impact of nursing student-led community health services on learning and health outcomes: A mixed method systematic review

Student-led community health service opportunities are commonly offered by nursing schools to improve student's educational and non-academic skills. However, evidence on their implementation and impact remains limited.

The article aims to synthesise the implementation strategies of nursing student-led community health services and to evaluate the impact of these services on nursing students' learning outcomes and the health outcomes of service recipients.

A mixed-methods systematic review using data-based convergent synthesis was performed. Searches were conducted across nine databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was used.

Forty-six studies were included. Student nurses and faculty members were the key service providers, critical in facilitating a collaborative community-academic partnership. The services targeted individuals with varying healthcare needs. Student's learning outcomes could be mapped into i) personal growth, ii) awareness of social issues and iii) professional knowledge and skills development. Positive impacts on clinical outcomes, health knowledge, and healthcare service utilization among service recipients were reported.

Student-led community health services positively impact both student learning and community health outcomes. Their reciprocal benefits make them both valuable additions to nursing education. Future research could explore technology-driven approaches to scale these services globally.