Viola Adrienne S, Scott Mariah Jacqueline, Rashid Hanin, Drachtman Richard, Kaveney Amanda, Sridharan Ashwin, Savage Beth, Delnevo Cristine, Porter Jerlym S, Devine Katie A
Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2025 Feb 10;12:23821205241274161. doi: 10.1177/23821205241274161. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.
In the United States, physicians and residents report inadequate training in managing adolescents and young adults (AYAs) during the transition from pediatric to adult care, particularly AYAs with chronic illnesses such as sickle cell disease (SCD). We developed an intervention where medical students serve as similar-aged "peer" mentors to offer informational and developmentally appropriate support to AYA patients during the period of transition. Our initial work showed the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention for young adults with SCD. In this report, we evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of this non-randomized trial on medical student mentors.
Following training, medical student mentors were paired 1:1 with an AYA with SCD who was transitioning from pediatric to adult care. They conducted monthly video calls with mentees to address specific transition and disease self-management topics. Students completed baseline and follow-up surveys regarding knowledge of SCD and empathy. Satisfaction was measured at follow-up via survey and an exit interview.
Nine medical students were paired with a total of 24 patients. Student retention was 100%, but only eight completed the follow-up survey. Students reported increased knowledge about managing a chronic illness and transition and improved understanding about the patient's experience navigating the healthcare system. Students expressed high satisfaction.
A medical student mentor intervention was feasible and acceptable to medical students and may provide an opportunity for value-added role in medical education. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of this type of intervention on both student and patient outcomes.
在美国，医生和住院医师表示，在从儿科护理过渡到成人护理期间，他们在管理青少年和青年（AYA）患者方面接受的培训不足，尤其是患有镰状细胞病（SCD）等慢性病的AYA患者。我们开展了一项干预措施，让医学生担任年龄相仿的“同伴”导师，在过渡期间为AYA患者提供适合其发展阶段的信息和支持。我们的初步工作表明，这种干预措施对患有SCD的年轻人是可行且可接受的。在本报告中，我们评估了这项非随机试验对医学生导师的可行性、可接受性和初步效果。
经过培训后，医学生导师与一名从儿科护理过渡到成人护理的患有SCD的AYA患者进行一对一配对。他们每月与受指导者进行视频通话，讨论特定的过渡和疾病自我管理主题。学生们完成了关于SCD知识和同理心的基线调查和随访调查。通过调查和离职面谈在随访时测量满意度。
9名医学生与总共24名患者配对。学生留存率为100%，但只有8人完成了随访调查。学生们报告说，他们对慢性病管理和过渡的知识有所增加，对患者在医疗系统中就医经历的理解有所改善。学生们表示高度满意。
医学生导师干预措施对医学生来说是可行且可接受的，可能为医学教育提供一个增值角色的机会。需要进一步研究来评估这类干预措施对学生和患者结果的疗效。
