Sex, Bugs, and Rock 'n' Roll: A Service-Learning Innovation to Enhance Medical Student Knowledge and Comfort With Sexual Health.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Sexual health is an intrinsic element of overall health; however, opportunities to enhance medical student comfort and knowledge about sexual health vary substantially and receive limited curricular time. Sex, Bugs, and Rock 'n' Roll is a novel service-learning initiative designed to enhance undergraduate medical student knowledge and comfort with sexual health. A total of 80 fifth-year undergraduate medical students researched, designed, and delivered a short sexual health promotion initiative for a population that experiences inequity.

Methods

This initiative employed active learning tasks including performing a literature review, participating in team learning, facilitating small-group sessions, and providing peer feedback. Ongoing formative feedback from the program leaders, tutors, and members of the target audience contributed to student development. A summative assessment rubric was used by program leaders to evaluate student performance at the end of the module. Anonymized pre- and posttest knowledge questions and module evaluations were used to evaluate the module.

Results

All 80 (100%) students completed randomized pre- and posttest knowledge questions and module evaluations. Student knowledge scores about sexuality and sexual health improved by 17% between pre- and posttest. All students reported increased comfort with and understanding of the clinical relevance of sexual health in the module evaluations.

Discussion

Sex, Bugs, and Rock 'n' Roll is a promising initiative for improving medical student knowledge and comfort with sexual health. This module also offers a novel way for students to experience sexual health, public health, and social accountability in an active and engaging fashion.

SUBMITTER: Desrosiers JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6464422 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature