Introducing Health Disparities Research To Students Entering The Health Professions Through An Interactive Webinar Module

Minority populations have poorer overall health than other U.S. residents which is attributed to lack of access to quality healthcare. This is why it is increasingly important for future healthcare providers to have a basic knowledge of health disparities, health equity, and cultural competency. Despite the interest some students expressed in better understanding these topics, little time was available to further them during medical school. Thus, students and faculty hypothesized that a curriculum designed to introduce these topics before involvement in regular medical school curriculum could help them be more aware of issues involving health equity. The central issue we will address with this research project is to determine the level of understanding students have of health disparities research prior to initiating their clinical training.  To assess and increase their knowledge we have developed a module composed of three units offered to students prior to their arrival on campus. The module, created through the PowerPoint based program Adobe Presenter, offers three units designed to introduce students to terminology and issues surrounding health disparities. Using Adobe Presenter we were able to transform ordinary presentations into an interactive Adobe Flash multimedia experience. Our module incorporates captivating narratives demonstrating the importance of these topics, Interactive Webinar Module (IWM) to simulate guest speakers, and quiz questions dispersed throughout to keep students engaged. The module is composed of three thematic subunits including an introduction to health disparities research and equity, introduction to the concept of cultural competency, and student initiated activities to address these topics.