Health professions students as research partners in community oriented primary care

Area of Science:

• Rural Health
• Primary Care Research
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Rural primary care settings face unique challenges in service delivery and community engagement.
• Health professions student involvement in research can address these challenges and foster innovation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process of integrating health professions students into rural primary care research.
• To evaluate the impact of student-led research on a rural community health center's development and expansion.

Main Methods:

• Over 400 students completed rotations, with over 200 being health professions students.
• 96 research projects were completed, focusing on medical services and community outreach.
• Structured research principles guided student participation, supervision, and project conduct.

Main Results:

• Student research covered diverse areas including access to care, quality improvement, and community needs assessments.
• Projects directly informed practice activities and influenced health center policies.
• Student research contributed to program development and evaluation within the community.

Conclusions:

• Involving health professions students in research is a viable model for enhancing rural primary care services.
• Student research significantly contributes to the growth and operational effectiveness of rural community health centers.
• This collaborative approach strengthens both student training and community health outcomes.