Street Medicine (SM) as a strategy for applying core concepts in pharmacology in Medical Education

Abstract ID 92671 Poster Board 021 Background: Current literature indicates that medical students who participate in free community clinics enhance their integration of basic science knowledge. However, no studies investigate any direct connection between medical students gaining a better understanding of foundational biomedical sciences, particularly pharmacology, and services through street medicine (SM). Since their 1st year, medical students at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), have been offered opportunities to serve underrepresented patients in SM programs. Medical students experience drug prescription management/follow-ups, mainly antibiotics. We hypothesized that engaging in SM early on gives students a better understanding of pharmacology core concepts. We aimed to explore the impact of an SM program on medical students' perspectives on applying pharmacology concepts in clinical settings. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated potential benefits of medical students engaging in SM to apply pharmacological concepts of antibiotics. Anonymous questionnaires comprising two components were distributed to all pre-clerkship and clerkship students enrolled at MSUCOM, whether they are a part of the SM program or not. Component 1 addressed demographics, students' perceptions, and how clinical services enhance understanding and application of pharmacological content; component 2 comprised case-based problems about the pharmacology of antibiotics with multiple choice questions. A T-test and Chi-square/Person's correlation (CI95) were applied to associate self-perception of engaging in SM and improving pharmacological understanding/application of antibiotics. Results: Of the 85 medical students invited to answer the survey, 54 completed the questionnaire, (25-year-old average, 62% Female), of whom 63% (N = 34) had took part in SM at MSUCOM. The distribution was 18.5% 1st; 66.7% 2nd; 11.1% 3rd; and 3.7% 4th year medical students. For 82.4%, SM improved their understanding of antibiotics' mechanism of action, and for 70.6% it reinforced concepts of antibiotic resistance, primarily through follow-up visits and 55.9% agreed that SM reinforced their understanding of allergic reactions. From those who completed the survey and had never taken part in SM before, 90% agreed that clinical exposure through SM would benefit them for future application of pharmacological concepts. Case-based questions regarding antibiotic prescribed in SM services evidenced that 31.5% of students with prior SM experience vs. 11.1% (P < 0.05) who never participated in SM correctly addressed the clinical efficacy. Prior participation in SM correlated with a higher (P < 0.05) likelihood of correctly addressing clinical efficacy issues related to antibiotic resistance. Conclusions: Our findings reveal a positive association between SM engagement and application of pharmacology. Our data suggest that medical students who engage in SM programs perceive a positive impact on their clinical training regarding using pharmacology core concepts. These results support the hypothesis that early exposure to SM during medical education contributes to a more robust understanding of foundational biomedical sciences, specifically pharmacology. Prospective investigations should explore the impact of enhancing basic pharmacology knowledge through SM clinical experiences on medical students as they advance in their career as physicians. MSUCOM-MUC