Beyond the symptoms: Team-based learning for social determinants in emergency medicine training

Background

Emergency departments serve as the front line for individuals facing acute health needs, often compounded by social determinants of health (SDoH). Integrating SDoH into emergency medicine care is vital for promptly addressing health concerns and averting future crises. This curriculum adopts a team-based approach to train emergency medicine residents in identifying and addressing SDoH, thereby delivering comprehensive and equitable care.

Methods

The curriculum employs various educational strategies, including presession readings, SDoH introductions, case simulations, debriefing sessions, panel discussions, and collaboration with other health care professionals. Evaluation via pre- and postcurriculum surveys revealed substantial enhancements in residents' comprehension, identification, and familiarity with local resources related to SDoH.

Results

Findings indicated an uptick in residents' grasp and acknowledgment of SDoH, alongside their capacity to address these factors. Posttraining Likert scores exhibited notable improvements across all domains, underscoring an augmented ability to manage SDoH in clinical practice. This curriculum amplifies residents' capability to deliver patient-centric care and advocate for health equity.

Conclusions

Continuous refinement and assessment are paramount for ensuring residents' readiness to navigate the intricate social determinants affecting patients' well-being. Ultimately, this curriculum heralds a pivotal stride toward fostering health equity and refining patient care standards within emergency medicine.