Student perceptions about developing an evidence-based public health program directed toward a vulnerable population

ObjectivesWe aimed to develop, implement, and assess a project designed to expand student pharmacists' knowledge of public health principles and increase confidence in designing public health outreach programs.MethodsAs part of a pharmacotherapeutics seminar, students designed a public health program that addressed a given health issue in a vulnerable population in a Boston-area neighborhood, taking into account population-specific cultural, economic, and lifestyle factors. Students constructed a patient-targeted pamphlet and delivered a professional presentation describing the program design, implementation strategies, and intended outcomes. Pre- and post-tests assessed students' confidence in creating, implementing, and evaluating a program during the first 2 years of implementation.ResultsSurvey participation was ≥96% for both surveys each year. Students' confidence in their ability to influence vulnerable population health significantly increased after this activity. They reported an increase in their ability to: find and interpret epidemiological data as it pertains to population health, create educational materials for patients, and create a feasible outreach program on a selected health issue taking into account patient-specific cultural, economic, and lifestyle factors (P<0.001). Additionally, students' confidence in preparing a professional presentation improved, along with their ability to identify appropriate and measurable outcomes for program evaluation (P<0.001). A majority of the students liked that the project allowed them to express creativity and felt that it was valuable.ConclusionsThe addition of this activity to the pharmacotherapeutics seminar curriculum improved student pharmacists' confidence in their abilities to address public health needs and improved the skills necessary to create and assess interventions targeted at vulnerable populations.