Table 2.
Changes in Knowledge, Confidence, and Attitudes Among Participants of the Health Disparities Elective (N = 39a) at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, 2010–2013
| Domain and items | Posttest, mean score (± SD) | Pretest, mean score (± SD) | P valueb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | |||
| Define health disparities + list three examples | 3.4 (± 1.1) | 4.1 (± 0.9) | < .01 |
| Define health care disparities + list three examples | 2.8 (± 0.9) | 3.5 (± 1.2) | < .01 |
| Describe how physicians’ assumptions affect clinical encounters | 3.4 (± 0.9) | 3.9 (± 1.0) | .08 |
| Describe how physicians’ assumptions may lead to health disparities | 2.8 (± 0.8) | 3.6 (± 1.0) | < .01 |
| List examples of social determinants of health | 3.7 (± 1.2) | 4.4 (± 0.8) | < .01 |
| Total knowledge score | 15.9 (± 2.5) | 19.1 (± 3.2) | < .01 |
| Total knowledge score (percentage) | 63.6 (± 10.0) | 76.4 (± 12.8) | < .01 |
| Self-reported confidence | |||
| Knowledge: Defining health disparities | 2.8 (± 0.5) | 3.5 (± 0.5) | < .01 |
| Knowledge: Describing the social determinants of health | 2.8 (± 0.6) | 3.6 (± 0.6) | < .01 |
| Knowledge: Defining implicit bias | 2.2 (± 0.6) | 3.6 (± 0.6) | < .01 |
| Skills: Treating patients different than myself | 3.0 (± 0.7) | 3.6 (± 0.5) | < .01 |
| Total confidence score | 10.7 (± 1.5) | 14.4 (± 1.7) | < .01 |
| Attitudes | |||
| Physician bias contributes to health care disparities | 3.2 (± 0.6) | 3.7 (± 0.5) | < .01 |
| Mistrust influences patient–physician encounters | 3.8 (± 0.8) | 3.9 (± 0.3) | .25 |
| Health care access is commensurate to community needsc | 3.0 (± 0.8) | 3.1 (± 0.8) | .72 |
| Community representation is necessary to design interventions to reduce health disparities | 3.5 (± 0.6) | 3.9 (± 0.3) | < .01 |
| Total attitudes score | 16.7 (± 1.9) | 18.2 (± 1.1) | < .01 |
a
Although 48 students enrolled in and completed the course between 2010 and 2013, only 39 participants completed both the pre- and postcourse tests.
b
Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank test performed on median values; mean values presented for clarity.
c
Reverse coded.