An evaluation of a sustained senior mentor program for medical students

Minnesota Northstar Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP)'s picture
Submitted by Minnesota North... on Jul 1, 2021 - 11:53am CDT

Resource Type: 
Journal Article

This article published in Gerontology and Geriatrics Education discusses medical student geriatrics education using community-based volunteer older persons, known as a Senior Mentor Program (SMP). Though these programs have been described and evaluated against curriculum objectives, the full breadth of students’ learning from SMPs has not been reported. This study conducted a qualitative study using content analysis of reflections of Year 2 medical students submitted during a single visit home-based SMP. Written reflections of 102 randomly selected students from 2016–2018 were inductively coded and grouped into themes. Older persons from the SMP site assisted in coding and quotation selection. The study discerned six themes from the evaluation of student reflections: student insight, interview and exam, social community, challenges with aging, strengths (responses to challenges), and physical infrastructure. Finally, the study found that a single home visit with older adults enables pre-clinical medical students to learn about multiple positive aspects of aging. The full article can be accessed with an OpenAthens account through your institution or with a Taylor & Francis Online account.

Author(s): 
June Englund
Howard A. Fink
Tina R. Kilaberia
Edward R. Ratner
Collections: 
Age-Friendly Care and Education Collection
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