Perceptions of Social Determinants of Health in a Student-Led Free Clinic

Understanding a patient’s social determinants of health (SDOH) needs is an important aspect of medical care. To understand better how well future physicians are aware of these needs, student primary care providers (PCP) at a student-led free clinic in the upper southeastern United States surveyed fifteen patients via telemedicine between October 2020 and January 2021 concerning their social determinant of health needs. Seventeen social determinants of health items were addressed using a 10-point Likert scale. Prior to administering the survey to patients, student PCPs were asked to complete the survey to predict each individual patient’s response. The average difference between student and patient response ranged from 1.3 to 3.8 for each SDOH item, and patients expressed a higher need than their PCP students did for health services navigation, health insurance limitations, and education options and affordability. We conclude that even this group of motivated medical students providing continuity care could benefit from a more formal curriculum addressing SDOH.