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Emphasizing the Understanding of Social Determinants of Health During Clerkship

Opinion Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2690-8808/177

Emphasizing the Understanding of Social Determinants of Health During Clerkship

  • Shabih Manzar

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport.

*Corresponding Author: Shabih Manzar, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport.

Citation: Shabih Manzar, (2023), Emphasizing the Understanding of Social Determinants of Health During Clerkship, J, Clinical Case Reports and Studies, 4(3); DOI:10.31579/2690-8808/177

Copyright: ©, 2023, Shabih Manzar. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received: 21 September 2023 | Accepted: 25 September 2023 | Published: 30 September 2023

Keywords:

Abstract

Introduction

Healthcare is affected by social determinants of health (SDOH); therefore, it is essential to incorporate the understating of SDOH during medical training.  SDOH are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes [1]. SDOH include the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. The essential SDOH are financial condition, food insecurity, transport facility, physical activity, stress, social connections, housing stability, depression, tobacco, and alcohol use (Appendix A). Recently, Shah et al [2]. successfully used an explicitly integrated social accountability principles rubric in family medicine clerkship during the 10-minute presentations and showed the value of looking beyond disease and focusing on SDOH. We have recently incorporated the aim of addressing SDOH issues during the journal club (JC) sessions of pediatric clerkship. JC sessions are an hour session where students are provided with an article and have to complete a 5-item questionnaire and submit it to the mentor. In addition, a live interactive discussion facilitates understanding the topic in detail. 

Appendix A

In the last two blocks, we used JC articles, mainly focusing on the social aspect of pediatric healthcare. The first article discussed the role of modest financial incentives in improving epinephrine autoinjector carriage rates among adolescents ages 15 to 19 with food allergies [3]. The second study looked at the positive effects of medical-financial partnership embedding financial coaching within pediatric primary care in improving low-income families' adherence to recommended visits and vaccinations [4]. 

The review of the responses to the 5-item questionnaire showed understanding among students about SDOH, as observed earlier by Shah et al [2].  Many electronic healthcare records have recently incorporated SDOH in data acquisition, which students could access while accessing patients’ records. In conclusion, as we observed and Shah et al [2].  highlighted, we should incorporate the understanding of SDOH during clerkship. 

Abbreviations:

SDOH- social determinants of health 
JC-journal club

References

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