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Abstract

Objective:

Early elementary school health education is often lacking due to resource constraints. This quality-improvement project evaluated the impact of a medical student-directed elementary school health education programme.

Design:

Elementary school students participated in health education sessions led by medical students. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to both elementary school and medical school students to evaluate their health knowledge or self-reported growth, respectively. Elementary school teachers completed a post-survey after observing the curriculum.

Setting:

The study was conducted in 2024 in third- to fifth-grade classrooms of an elementary school in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Method:

Elementary school students (n = 54) participated in a series of four, 1-hour health education sessions taught by medical students. The four core topics – nutrition, hygiene, exercise and relaxation and growth and development – were presented over several weeks. Pre- and post-tests were used to evaluate changes in elementary school students’ understanding of the material. Medical students (n = 26) completed pre- and post-surveys to measure changes in their personal and professional development. Elementary school teachers (n = 4) were queried at the programme’s conclusion to provide an overall assessment of the health education initiative.

Results:

Elementary school students showed significant improvement in health education knowledge from pre-test to post-test (+11.1%, p = .003). Medical students reported growth in engagement and motivational strategies (+13.8%, p = .006), lesson planning and educational skills (+12.2%, p = .01) and ability to convey complex health information (+12.0%, p = .03). Elementary school teachers rated the programme 94.0 ± 9.4 on a 100-point scale.

Conclusion:

A medical student-led health education programme may improve health education knowledge among elementary school students while also enhancing medical students’ personal and professional development.

Keywords

Community elementary health education health literacy medical student

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