Creating a New Social Emergency Medicine Curriculum: A Needs Assessment
Abstract
Learning Objectives: We sought to understand social EM curricular needs.
Background: Addressing social determinants of health is a crucial part of emergency medicine (EM). However, training in social EM is variable. Objective: We sought to understand social EM curricular needs.
Methods: We performed a mixed methods needs assessment of residents and faculty at two academic training sites. Residents were emailed an online survey of multiple choice, rating scale, and free response items that was piloted prior to use. We conducted semi-structured interviews with faculty. We performed descriptive analysis on survey data. Two qualitative researchers independently analyzed interview data using a thematic approach. Discrepancies were resolved by in-depth discussion and negotiated consensus. Results: 43 out of 120 residents completed the online survey and 6 faculty were interviewed. 34 residents (79%) stated they were “Not knowledgeable” or “Somewhat knowledgeable” about the field of Social EM. 34 (79%) reported that education in Social EM is “Very” or “Extremely” important to them, and 37 (86%) responded that Social EM is “Very” or “Extremely” important to the field of EM. Faculty reported that Social EM is crucial given its importance to patient health. They felt this education should be longitudinal and begin early in medical training. Faculty recommended core content, hands-on experiences, and partnering with local community resources. They also noted that leadership support and faculty buy-in was important to the success of Social EM education.
Conclusion: Residents and faculty believe Social EM is a cornerstone of emergency medicine. Important curricular areas and educational strategies were identified. These results can inform the development of formal Social EM curricula.