Can Training in Medical School “Grow” Physicians that Shape Health Policy?

Abstract

Background: Health policy and advocacy efforts are the foundation for improving community health outcomes. Active physician participation directly correlates with better proposed and implemented policy measures.

Objectives: Our goal is to examine interest, importance, and level of participation in health policy and advocacy amongst University of New Mexico graduate medical trainees. Our research question was, “Does exposure to health policy training during medical school lead to positive policy and/or advocacy interest, knowledge, and/or intention to participate after graduation?”

Methods: We administered a cross-sectional survey to post-medical school trainees and analyzed results by training experiences and post-graduate training level.

Results: Residents who received policy training in medical school ranked physician participation in policy as more important than those who did not get such training and were more likely to vote in elections compared to age group national rates. The number of health policy and advocacy activities engaged during residency increased if they received advocacy training, yet residents do not feel empowered to engage in policy work at the organizational level. Residents plan to be involved in policy work post-graduation, yet less than half follow policies at a national level, and only slightly more than half follow state policy.

 Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first paper that describes what resident physicians do (or intend to do) with health policy and advocacy training received in medical school. Our findings offer insight into policy interest and actions taken following medical school graduation.