The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66551

Timothy F. Quigley, MPH, PA-C, Department of Physician Assistant, Wichita State University, Campus Box 43, Wichita, KS 67260-0043, 316.978.5760, tim.quigley@wichita.edu

Integrating Healthy People 2010 into Clinical Health Professions Curriculum

Objective: To develop curricular structure for preventive medicine course using Healthy People 2010 materials, thus enhancing student exposure to national health objectives.

Methods: Preventive Medicine and Community Health course was redesigned using the structure of HP 2010 Goals, Objectives, and Leading Health Indicators to deliver critical material to physician assistant students regarding the relationship between individual and community health.

Results: Students studied HP 2010 Goals and Objectives to develop baseline familiarity with national health objectives. The following ten course meetings were built around the Leading Health Indicators, exposing students to the impact of the major public health concerns in the United States (e.g. Mental Health, Overweight and Obesity, Tobacco, Substance Abuse), and introducing preventive medicine clinical approaches to address these concerns from a community and clinical perspective. Student performance in revised curriculum was equivalent to prior cohort performance.

Discussion: These HP 2010 curricular innovations can be duplicated in other health professions curricula, providing students with a theoretical framework in public health, and presenting rationale for clinical preventive medicine delivery. Student performance per evaluations of critical preventive medicine material was unchanged from preceding cohort.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• 1. Develop preventive medicine curriculum using Healthy People 2010 Goals and Objectives.
• 2. Recognize the value of integrating clinical medicine and public health approaches to the nation’s major public health concerns.

Keywords: Healthy People 2000/2010, Clinical Prevention Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.