Background: Medical students implemented a comprehensive sex education program in Miami schools. Participating medical students underwent sexual health communication training by a sexologist. The program’s goal was also to increase medical students’ sexual health training, which is frequently lacking in medical school curricula.
Methods: Pre surveys were administered to a convenience sample of medical students and post surveys to students after program participation. Surveys contained Likert-type scales (1-5) to assess comfort and confidence with sexual health counseling. Post-surveys also asked about the program’s contribution to participants’ medical education in sexual health.
Results: Among pre survey respondents (n=106), mean confidence scores for discussing sexual health and counseling about safe practices were 3.36 and 3.78, respectively, and 3.72 and 3.88 for comfort with these domains. Among participating students (n=28), 93% reported that participation contributed to their sexual health education, and 100% reported that it improved comfort when talking about sexual health. Mean confidence scores (4.59, 4.63) for discussing sexual health and counseling about safe sex practices were higher after participation, as were mean comfort scores (4.56, 4.70) for these practices.
Discussions: Sexual health often lacks in medical school curricula. This medical student-led program both improves their sexual health training and provides important sex education to teens. Further research is needed to assess the impact of this intervention, particularly as medical students graduate to clinical practice.
Keywords: Communication Skills, Teaching Skills, Other
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2017, Student, Resident, Faculty, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, UME, Public Health,
Lydia Fein, MD MPH, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital; Adriana Bracho, MPH; Catherine Walkington, BS; Monica Broome, MD; Christopher Estes, MD MPH
