Improving Food Insecurity Education in Medical School Through Integrative Service Learning

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has left more than 38% of households food insecure in the United States. Improved education of food security topics in medical school can improve screening for food insecurity and improve health outcomes. The first aim of this study was to address if participation in an experiential integrative service learning program improved medical students’ understanding of food insecurity. The second aim was to compare knowledge of food insecurity between the general body of medical students and those who participated in the service learning program. Methods This was a cohort study at a large medical school in southeast Michigan in 2019–2020. We administered the Food Insecurity for Health Professionals (FISHP) survey to medical student participants; higher scores on the FISHP survey suggest higher knowledge and comfort with food security topics. We administered online Qualtrics surveys to the volunteer group before and after volunteering 12 hours at an urban farm. We also administered a one-time survey to a control group of medical students. We performed univariable and bivariable statistical analyses with StataSE 16. The study was exempted by the institutional IRB. Results Medical students in the volunteer group (n = 18) and the control group (n = 66) completed online surveys. Participants in the volunteer group had increased knowledge of food security after volunteering in the service learning program (p = .03). There was a statistically significant difference between the mean FISHP scores for the control group and the volunteer group (p = .001). Conclusion Medical student participation in an experiential integrative service learning program improved knowledge of food security topics and increased comfort discussing food insecurity with patients, compared to students who did not participate. Experiential integrative service learning may improve holistic patient care through physician recognition of food insecurity and other social determinants of health.

A Novel Case-Based Learning Activity With a Focus on Food Insecurity

“…Literature supports and encourages healthcare settings, especially those with underserved patient populations, to implement food insecurity screening and referral programs as well as participation in an experiential integrative service for medical students which have improved students’ understanding of food insecurity. 13,14 Educational interventions regarding food insecurity are shown to improve knowledge and attitudes toward screening for food insecurity and lead to measurable patient and system-level changes. 15 Given the importance of this singular social determinant in patient health and welfare, a feasible curricular activity devoted to teaching students how best to identify and address it is beneficial as not all teaching facilities will be able to institute the experiential integrative models of service for this purpose.…”